Border agents seize 600 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in celery – DNyuz

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials seized more than 600 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of celery.

CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered the drug bust during a routine vehicle check on August 9.

According to CBP, the street value of the drugs is estimated at $755,000.

Agents stationed at the facility encountered a truck entering the U.S. from Mexico.

The driver, who was in possession of a valid border crossing card, was transporting narcotics under the guise of food.

The 34-year-old man was driving a truck when he was caught smuggling drugs while trying to enter the country.

After a routine inspection, CBP officers referred the driver, truck and cargo for a second inspection.

During further inspection, officers discovered 508 packages of suspected methamphetamine, weighing 629.72 pounds, concealed in the shipment of food products.

A CBP K-9 assisted officers in detecting the drugs and alerting them to the presence of narcotics.

The contents of the packages tested positive for methamphetamine.

Homeland Security Investigations has launched a criminal investigation and the investigation is ongoing. CBP agents regularly work with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to stop the smuggling of narcotics.

“The vigilance and expertise of our agents once again thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics disguised as everyday products,” said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director of the Port of Otay Mesa.

“This discovery underscores our continued commitment to protecting our communities from the dangers of drug trafficking.”

The CBP’s latest drug bust comes after the seized amount of methamphetamine already exceeded last year’s total.

So far in 2024, more than 66,000 kilos of methamphetamine have been seized nationwide. That is more than the total amount seized in 2023.

Law enforcement officials at the U.S.-Mexico border seized 132,655 pounds of methamphetamine at the southwest border alone in fiscal year 2023-2024 (through July 2024).

California and Texas, two border states, have the highest numbers of methamphetamine users.

Meth is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Meth is most commonly taken as a white, bitter-tasting powder or pill. Crystal meth is a version of the substance that looks like shards of glass or shiny blue-white rocks.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the vast majority of meth entering the U.S. is produced by drug cartels in Mexico. The drug is designed in secret laboratories and is intended to be potent and cheap.

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