US Border Agents Seize $5 Million in Drugs Disguised as Watermelons

U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted a truck carrying more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine at the U.S.-Mexico border. The truck was hidden in a shipment of watermelons.

The drugs were wrapped in plastic painted two shades of green to resemble the fruit, and were placed among real watermelons.

Officers seized more than two tons of methamphetamine, divided into 1,220 packages.

Hiding drugs in products is a common way to smuggle illegal substances across the border. Banana shipments are the most popular, but agents have also recently found narcotics in Gouda cheese and avocados.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said their agents stopped a semi-trailer truck near the Mexico border in Otay Mesa.

The papers showed the driver was transporting a load of watermelons, but upon inspection the packages were found to contain methamphetamine.

Also known as meth, it is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant.

The driver was turned over to Homeland Security officials.

The seizure came a week after officials discovered nearly 300 kilograms of methamphetamine in a shipment of celery at the same border crossing.

According to CBS News, the BBC’s American partner, both hauls had a total value of $6 million.

Mexican drug cartels are the largest producers and suppliers of methamphetamine to the United States.

In February, Mexican security forces seized more than 40 tons of the drug in the largest laboratory discovered in recent years.

Mexican officials said the lab had more than 200 centrifuges, boilers and condensation chambers — key equipment used to make the chemical.