DEA Makes Record-Breaking Seizure of Crystal Meth in Atlanta

Last week a record amount of crystal meth was seized.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 2,585 pounds of the illegal drug on August 8.

More than a ton of methamphetamine worth $3.2 million was discovered at a farmers market in Atlanta.

Federal officials said Jesus Martinez, the driver of the truck, was arrested in connection with the alleged drug smuggling case.

The meth was found in boxes of celery.

“This was in a shipment of celery,” said Robert Murphy, special agent with the DEA Atlanta. “It was hidden in the celery. Obviously, we threw the celery away. That didn’t make it to the store.”

The Georgia Ministry of Agriculture posted on social media that “criminal activities in our agricultural sector will not be tolerated” following the raid.

According to the DEA Atlanta, Martinez was a member of a Mexican cartel.

The crystal methamphetamine entered the US through the southern border.

The origin of the seizure is currently unknown.

“This is a significant and staggering amount of drugs to be shipped at one time and to a destination so far from the border,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “It also shows the confidence of the cartel behind this. This is the largest meth seizure ever by the DEA in Atlanta and the third largest nationwide in 2024.”

The drug agency said its top priority is to defeat the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, the two drug cartels responsible for the vast majority of U.S. fentanyl and methamphetamine deaths.

The National Desk’s content is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.