Inspection Reveals Meth Concealed in Shipment of Bell Peppers

US Border Protection Agents seized 1000 lbs or $14 million worth of methamphetamine, or crystal meth, in a shipment of bell peppers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in southeast TX along the Rio Grande.

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$14 million of meth in pepper shipment
    February 08, 2019

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Office of Field Operations at the Pharr Bridge discovered half a ton of methamphetamine worth $14.08 million and nearly 10 pounds of cocaine concealed within a commercial shipment of fresh produce.meth

“This was truly an outstanding interception of hard narcotics that our CBP officers effected yesterday at the cargo facility,” said Port Director David Gonzalez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas port of Entry. “A seizure of this magnitude is a positive enforcement action against drug smuggling organizations, one that will certainly make a difference in our fight against drugs.”

CBP Field Operations officers working at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility on Feb. 6 encountered a commercial shipment of fresh Bell peppers arriving from Mexico and the shipment was referred for further inspection.

With the use of a non-intrusive imaging inspection along with the assistance of a canine team, officers discovered 364 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 1,005 pounds and four packages of alleged cocaine weighing 9.92 pounds concealed within the commercial trailer. The total estimated street value for the narcotics is $14.15 million.

The narcotics and tractor-trailer were seized and the case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations agents.