U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 145 kilograms (about 320 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine from a tractor-trailer that crossed from Mexicali into Calexico on May 1. The driver was detained and faces federal charges for drug importation and smuggling.
A CBP K9 unit alerted officers to the rear bumper and undercarriage of the trailer during an initial inspection. Officers then sent the vehicle to secondary screening, where they discovered 66 individually wrapped packages of crystal meth concealed in wooden false bottoms beneath the truck’s frame.
Sophisticated Concealment in False Bottoms
The packages were hidden inside custom-built wooden compartments bolted to the underside of the trailer. This type of concealment requires advance modification of the vehicle, pointing to organized trafficking rather than an opportunistic attempt. The driver was turned over to federal authorities for processing.
The Mexicali-Calexico crossing is one of the busiest commercial ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. Thousands of commercial trucks pass through its cargo facility each week carrying agricultural products, manufactured goods, and other freight between Baja California and the Imperial Valley.
Part of a Pattern at Southern California Ports
The seizure comes just days after a separate bust at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility near Tijuana. On April 14, CBP officers at that crossing found more than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine worth nearly $5 million hidden inside a cargo trailer whose manifest listed only cardboard. In January 2025, officers at the Calexico West Port of Entry intercepted 152 pounds of meth concealed under the rear seats, floor, and fenders of a pickup truck.
CBP has maintained enhanced inspection protocols at all Calexico crossings, including expanded use of K9 units and non-intrusive imaging technology. Those measures have contributed to longer wait times in commercial lanes. Roque Caza, the CBP Area Port Director for Calexico, has previously cited officer diligence and thorough inspection techniques as key factors in recent interceptions.
The driver’s identity has not been publicly released. Federal prosecutors are expected to file formal charges in the coming days. This story was first reported by Punto Norte.