U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered over $31 million worth of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of serrano peppers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Pharr, Texas. The "massive" load of drugs arrived from Mexico in a tractor-trailer on Sunday.
After an X-ray scan raised suspicions, officers conducted a thorough physical inspection, revealing 1,859 packages of meth weighing approximately 2,155 pounds concealed among the peppers, according to Border Report. CBP estimates that the seized drugs carry a street value of approximately $31.17 million.
CBP's Office of Field Operations took control of the vehicle and drugs, while special agents from Homeland Security Investigations launched an inquiry. "Our CBP officers continue to remain vigilant and intercepted this massive methamphetamine load, preventing it from reaching American streets," said Carlos Rodriguez, Port Director for the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
The unusual vessel for the attempted smuggling is not unique. Back in August, CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility reported that they intercepted 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of celery entering the United States from Mexico.
The discovery occurred when CBP officers stopped a 34-year-old man seeking to enter the country. The driver, who had a valid border crossing card, declared his cargo as celery. Following standard procedures, the vehicle and its contents were directed to a secondary inspection for further examination.
During the secondary inspection, the celery shipment was offloaded, and a CBP K-9 unit was deployed to inspect the produce. The K-9 unit quickly detected the presence of narcotics. A detailed search revealed 508 packages hidden among the celery. Subsequent testing confirmed the packages contained methamphetamine, with a total weight of 629.72 pounds and an estimated street value of $755,000.
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