Four men have been apprehended and charged with federal drug trafficking charges after two-and-a-half tons of methamphetamine were found in a box truck. The vehicle had just gone over the border between U.S. and Mexico.
On Thursday, July 7, close to 4:55 p.m., in National City, California, the incident occurred. The 20-foot commercial box truck crossed into the U.S. from the Otay Mesa Commercial Port of Entry.
Once the truck got to 30th Street, agents saw the defendants taking many boxes off of the truck and putting them in a Dodge van.
All four men came from Tijuana, Mexico, and were 37 to 44 years of age.
After further looking into the matter, authorities found 148 bundles of a substance inside of the seized cardboard boxes. When tested, the substance was confirmed to be methamphetamine. The amount came to 5,000 pounds of the drug. That is the largest amount ever confiscated in San Diego County.
Those arrested have been identified as Rafael Alzuna, 37; Mario Contreras, 41; Galdrino Contreras, 41; and Ethgar Velasquez, 44. They have all have been charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. If they are found guilty, they could receive up to 10 years in prison. They could also have to pay a $10 million fine.
The value of the 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine is said to be millions.
