Fentanyl and Meth Seizure at Andrade's Port of Entry Was Largest Ever

Over a million dollars worth of fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized at the Andrade Port of Entry in late February, making it the largest bust of the two drugs in US History. If you are unfamiliar with the port, it is just 100 miles east of San Diego. Millions of people and shipments come through the port every year. It's where many street drugs are believed to enter the US.

Drug Smuggling at the Andrade Port of Entry

Drug smuggling at Andrade Port of Entry primarily involves transporting illegal drugs from Mexico to the United States. The most commonly smuggled drugs are marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Drug smugglers use a variety of tactics to move drugs across the border, including hiding drugs in vehicles, using hidden compartments, or even physically carrying drugs on their person.

In recent years, the US government has stepped up its efforts to combat drug smuggling at Andrade and other border crossings. This has included increased law enforcement presence and advanced technologies such as x-ray scanners and drug-sniffing dogs.

However, drug smuggling remains a persistent problem at Andrade and other border crossings. The lucrative nature of the drug trade, coupled with the vast expanse of the U.S.-Mexico border, makes it challenging to eliminate drug smuggling activities.

How Did Authorities Come Across the Meth and Fentanyl?

US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) led the seizure when they stopped a 37-year-old female US citizen in a 2016 pickup who was in line to cross the border. Something about the truck must have seemed "off" to authorities, so they pulled her out of line for further inspection. Using their imaging technology, they determined that parts of the truck had been modified irregularly. In addition, the gas tank had extra space. Drug-sniffing K-9 dogs also indicated the presence of narcotics.

The CBP officers could then hold the woman and do a thorough inspection. They discovered 76 packages of drugs in her gas tank, of which 46 packages were fentanyl. The other 30 packages were methamphetamine. In total, the packages were worth over a million dollars.

"Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drug threats our nation has ever encountered. Continuing to amplify fentanyl awareness and the dangers it poses to the health and safety of the American people is paramount," Sidney Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego, said of the bust. "Day after day, our officers work diligently on the front line to secure our borders and keep our communities safe."

Meth and Fentanyl Addiction in San Diego

Like many other cities in the United States, San Diego has experienced a significant increase in drug-related deaths, with methamphetamine and fentanyl topping the list for overdose deaths. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, there were 461 drug-related deaths in 2020, up from 358 in 2019. Of these deaths, meth was involved in 278 cases, and fentanyl was involved in 250 cases. In addition, the number of fentanyl-related deaths increased by 126% from 2019 to 2020.

San Diego has implemented several initiatives to combat the drug epidemic, including increasing access to treatment and recovery services, expanding drug education and prevention programs, and providing overdose prevention resources, such as naloxone.

Much work still needs to be done to address the root causes of addiction and to reduce the harm caused by drug use in the city.

Getting Help for Addiction

If you or somebody you love is struggling with substance abuse, help is available! We can help you get back to living your best life and starting the path to recovery. Call us to learn more about our programs and how we can help. Give yourself a chance!