Marijuana Bust: San Diego Border Authorities Seize Tons Of Marijuana Stashed With Jalapenos

Border checkpoint officers in San Diego on Sunday seized a massive stash of marijuana in an unorthodox hiding place. According to a tweet posted by Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, nearly four tons of marijuana was discovered stashed away in a shipment of jalapeno peppers at a border crossing in Otay Mesa.

“Very proud of our CBP officers in Otay Mesa!” Morgan said. “Last night they seized 7,560 pounds of marijuana in a shipment of jalapeno peppers and on Tuesday they seized another 10,642 pounds of marijuana in a shipment of plastic auto parts. Well done!”

According to NBC News, the truck that the shipment was stored in was being driven by a 37-year-old Mexican citizen, who was stopped at approximately 6:15 p.m. The marijuana was found in 314 packages, which in a photo shared by Morgan, appear to have been hidden beneath the peppers. Estimates put the value of the smuggled drugs at roughly $2.3 million.

This seizure came days after the discovery of over 5 tons of marijuana hidden in a shipment of plastic car parts.

Despite the fact the marijuana was legalized in California three years ago, the black market for the drug continues to thrive. This is in part because 80 percent of municipalities in the states still do not allow the establishment of dispensaries. One local executive, Cameron Wald, attributed the difficulty of running legal dispensaries to steep taxes and permit costs. Without these, illegal cannabis can be had for 40 percent less than the legally sold product.