US-Mexico border agents have thwarted a “suspicious situation” after discovering $5 million worth of methamphetamine disguised as inflated watermelons, amid a string of attempts by Mexican drug cartels to smuggle illegal drugs across the border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers became suspicious of a 29-year-old man who was driving a commercial tractor-trailer loaded with watermelons.
Authorities said the tractor-trailer was attempting to enter the United States through the Otay Mesa shopping complex near San Diego.
A secondary test revealed that the shipment of genuine watermelons contained approximately 1,220 counterfeit watermelons containing 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine.
Last Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Otay Mesa Mercantile Complex seized more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine that had been disguised and hidden inside a shipment of watermelons. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
Further examination revealed that the illegal drugs had been carefully packaged in inflated bags shaped like watermelons.
An examination of the contents of the packages revealed a total of 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $5 million.
CBP officers found 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine in the shipment of counterfeit watermelons. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
Port Director Rosa Hernandez called the cover-up “sophisticated.”
Charity group accidentally distributes drug-laced candy to nearly 400 people: ‘Funny taste’
“I am incredibly proud of the extraordinary work our team has done over the past few weeks to uncover sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods,” Hernandez said. “As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling methods, we will continue to find new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering our country.”
Special Agents assigned to the DEA’s Atlanta Field Office made a record-breaking seizure on August 8, seizing over one ton of crystal methamphetamine during an enforcement operation at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, Georgia. (Drug Enforcement Administration)
The illegal drug recovery comes after the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Atlanta seized a record amount of crystal meth.
Deadly opioid carfentanil spreads across the country
The DEA said the drugs were hidden inside a shipment of celery. press release.
This discovery marks the largest methamphetamine seizure by the Atlanta DEA, totaling 2,585 pounds. The wholesale value of this seizure is approximately $3.2 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents became suspicious of a man driving a truck loaded with watermelons. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Atlanta field office, said the seizure shows “confidence” among Mexican drug cartels.
“The amount of drugs being shipped this far from the border at one time is incredible,” Murphy said. “It shows the confidence of this drug trafficking cartel.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
