A Tijuana resident is facing life in prison after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered nearly 1,000 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden inside the fuel tank of his commercial truck.
The incident occurred on March 2 at approximately 11:20 a.m. at the Otay Mesa port of entry. According to officials, a CBP officer noticed a white crystalline substance on the passenger-side fuel tank of a commercial vehicle attempting to cross into the United States.
The observation prompted a secondary inspection, during which officers uncovered 29 sealed cubes filled with liquid concealed within the fuel tank. A field test of the substance returned positive for characteristics consistent with methamphetamine.
In total, the contraband weighed approximately 428.60 kilograms, equivalent to 944.90 pounds.
The driver was identified as Oscar Alonzo Cesena Camacho, a Mexican citizen residing in Tijuana who was traveling on a business visa at the time of the stop. He was taken into custody and has been charged with importation of a controlled substance.
According to the charging document, Camacho faces a maximum life penalty in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, as well as a potential fine of up to $10 million.
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