In a recent operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers successfully seized over $5 million worth of methamphetamine cleverly hidden in a shipment of watermelons.
Smugglers attempted to disguise 4,587 pounds of meth by wrapping the packages in vibrant green plastic with stripes, mimicking the appearance of small watermelons. The authorities listed the street value of the haul at over $5 million.
On August 16, CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility conducted a secondary inspection of a tractor-trailer carrying watermelons coming from Mexico, operated by a 29-year-old driver.
During this thorough inspection, the watermelon shipment was redirected to the intensive dock for closer examination, leading to the surprising discovery.
The individual believed to be involved in the smuggling is now in the custody of Homeland Security, which has initiated a criminal investigation that is still ongoing.
“I’m extremely proud of our team for their outstanding efforts in uncovering such sophisticated smuggling methods,” commented Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. “As drug cartels adapt their techniques, we will continue to innovate our strategies to keep these dangerous substances out of our communities.”
This seizure is part of the CBP’s ongoing Operation Apollo, a comprehensive initiative targeting fentanyl trafficking that began in late 2023 in Southern California and has since expanded into Arizona.
Otay Mesa Port of Entry serves as one of three major crossings in the San Diego-Tijuana region, linking San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.
Earlier this month, CBP also intercepted more than $40 million worth of meth hidden in a shipment of lettuce, marking a record-breaking seizure.
In August, over 300 pounds of meth were confiscated from a shipment of fresh tomatillos in Southern California, and in July, officers found meth concealed in cucumbers and bell peppers during a routine check at the Pharr Port of Entry in Texas.
So far in the 2024 Fiscal Year, more than 145,698 pounds of methamphetamine have been seized nationwide, with 132,655 pounds taken from the Southwest border alone as of July 2024.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 2.5 million individuals aged 12 and older reported using methamphetamine in the U.S.