Ep 14. Mega Millions Meth Stash

To Catch a Smuggler season 3 episode 14, titled Mega Millions Meth Stash, delves into the investigations led by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection department and its officers responsible for keeping the border safe from illegal activities. The episode takes its audience on a ride to the busiest border crossings in the country, where officials have to stay vigilant and employ their skills to bust individuals involved in smuggling drugs across the border.

The episode revolves around the hunt for a stash of methamphetamine, estimated to have a street value of around two million dollars. The team at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, located on the US-Mexico border, receives intel about the incoming shipment, which would arrive in a commercial truck. Officers at the checkpoint comb through every vehicle that crosses passes through, scrutinizing them for anything that seems out of the ordinary. In no time, they spot a few indications on their scanner, which prompts them to further investigate the truck and its trailer.

The CBP's custom and border patrol officers have specialized training in recognizing suspicious activity among all the vehicular traffic crossing the border. The officers carefully scrutinize the truck that they suspect is carrying the shipment. They use their expertise in detecting irregularities and their instincts, honed over years of experience, to investigate the truck further.

The officials, using X-ray machines, inspect the truck's cargo within seconds, and they flag a few suspicious containers on the scanner. The officers and customs agents remove the containers and break them open to find several packages of methamphetamine, wrapped in clear plastic. The officers collect a sample of the crystal substance to verify its authenticity and potency, and once they do so, the officers decide to create a ruse to catch the masterminds behind this narcotic trafficking.

They substitute the packet with a similar-looking dummy package and set up a stakeout. The tactic seems to work, as the team catches the drug traffickers red-handed after they come to receive the shipment.

Meanwhile, the CBP team receives a tip about an incoming shipment of cocaine worth several million dollars. The shipment carries drugs that are hidden in unique and complex compartments and require special skill to be detected. The officers need to stay extra cautious to avoid the risk of exposing themselves. The cocaine shipment tracking leads them to an abandoned industrial park, where they spot a car leaving the premises and heading towards the border.

The officers monitor the vehicle, suspicious of the activities of the occupants, but need more evidence before they can take any action. Finally, after conducting an extensive search, the officers detect the shipment, hidden in an area that is hard to reach. They break the cover and open the door of the secret stash, finding several packages of powder that they confirm to be cocaine.

The team suspects that narcotic smugglers with experience in hiding contraband and create unique compartments could be behind the crime, well equipped to avoid detection. The officers then use clues from previous busts to track similar drug shipments and raise alarms when they suspect drug cartel involvement in the crime.

Finally, the episode ends with the officers apprehending multiple drug dealers at various checkpoints across the border. The CBP officers are lauded for their efforts to keep the country's borders safe while still ensuring global trade runs smoothly. The episode highlights the precision, instincts, and expertise of these agents and their dedication to serving their country and citizens.