CBP dog sniffs out 215 pounds of fentanyl pills in SUV at California border crossing

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) -- A drug-sniffing dog led border officers to a load of fentanyl pills inside an SUV that was making its way into San Diego from Tijuana in the early hours of Nov. 24.

A K-9 unit had been roving the lanes leading up to the inspection booths at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry when the dog alerted officers to an SUV driven by a 31-year-old man, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

The SUV was ordered to undergo further inspection, including an X-ray that revealed anomalies in the vehicle.

The officers found 30 packages with a total of 215 pounds of fentanyl in the rear quarter panels, spare tire, and doors of the vehicle, CBP said.

“Fentanyl is a highly lethal drug that continues to plague our southern border,” said Rosa Hernandez, port director for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. “I’m incredibly proud of our officers who courageously confront this threat and seize these lethal drugs on a daily basis.”

CBP seized the drugs and vehicle and turned the man over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.