US Border Agents Seize $5 Million in Meth Hidden in Fake Watermelons

Karah Rucker

DRUG SMUGGLERS ARE BROADENING THEIR HORIZONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BRING ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO THE US.

BORDER AGENTS INTERCEPTED A TRUCK CARRYING MORE THAN $5 MILLION WORTH OF METHAMPHETAMINE DISGUISED IN A SHIPMENT OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND WATERMELONS AT A BORDER CROSSING IN SAN DIEGO.

THIS COMES JUST A WEEK AFTER OFFICIALS DISCOVERED NEARLY 300 KILOGRAMS OF METH HIDDEN IN A SHIPMENT OF CELERY AT THE SAME BORDER CROSSING. THE TWO SEIZURES ARE WORTH A TOTAL OF SIX MILLION DOLLARS.

MORE THAN 4,000 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE, WRAPPED IN PLASTIC AND PAINTED IN SHADES OF GREEN TO LIVE ON THE FRUIT, WERE CONFISCATED BY LAW OFFICERS. THE DRUGS WERE CLEVERLY HIDDEN AMONG REAL WATERMELONS IN A SHIPMENT INTERCEPTED AT THE OTAY MESA BORDER CROSSING.

OFFICIALS SAY THIS METHOD OF SMUGGLING DRUGS BY HIDDEN THEM IN PRODUCE IS NOTHING NEW. WHILE BANANA SHIPMENTS ARE A POPULAR CHOICE, OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO RECENTLY FOUND NARCOTICS HIDDEN IN GOUDA CHEESE AND AVOCADOS.

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICERS STATED THAT THEIR OFFICERS SIGHTED THE TRUCK LISTED AS CARRYING WATERMELONS. BUT CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE MASSIVE HIT OF METHAMPHETAMINE. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS TURNED OVER TO HOMELAND SECURITY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS ARE STILL THE LARGEST PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS STORY AND HAVE UPDATES ON ONGOING EFFORTS TO STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY – AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU NEVER MISS A STORY.