Recently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized two batches of methamphetamine at the San Diego border between the United States and Mexico, with a total weight exceeding 5,000 pounds and an estimated street value of over $5 million.
According to CBP, both batches of drugs were seized at the Otay Mesa port of entry, with one batch disguised as watermelons and the other batch mixed in with shipments of celery.
On August 16, border officials discovered 1,220 packages of methamphetamine disguised as watermelons on a truck attempting to enter the country. These packages were wrapped in green and black paper resembling the skin of a watermelon.
CBP stated that the packages disguised as watermelons contained substances that tested positive for methamphetamine, with a total weight of 4,587 pounds. The estimated street value of these packages exceeds $5 million.
The truck and the drugs were confiscated by border officials, and the 29-year-old truck driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
On August 9, border officials uncovered another drug smuggling case at the same port of entry. Over 600 pounds of methamphetamine were hidden in a shipment of celery.
CBP reported that a commercial tractor-trailer driver attempted to enter the country, and after initial inspection raised suspicions, the vehicle underwent a second search. When a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the celery shipment on the truck, border officials found 508 packages hidden among the vegetables, including 629 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $750,000. The packages visually resembled daikon radishes.
The drugs and the truck were subsequently seized, and the 34-year-old driver was handed over to the Department of Homeland Security for further investigation.
Rosa Hernandez, the port director at Otay Mesa, expressed that as drug traffickers’ smuggling techniques become increasingly sophisticated, they will explore new and more effective methods to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from flowing into the United States.
CBP stated that these two seizure operations are part of Operation Apollo, a multi-agency law enforcement operation primarily focused on combating fentanyl smuggling into the United States.