U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made a significant seizure of suspected methamphetamine, hidden in a shipment of salad greens from Mexico, during a routine inspection at the Pharr International Bridge in South Texas. The discovery, made on November 21, followed a routine check that revealed irregularities in a shipment of lettuce, which led to the seizure of 500 packages of suspected drugs concealed in the salad leaves. According to the release, authorities seized approximately 1,153 pounds of the narcotics, packed into boxes meant to look like standard lettuce shipments.
A photo shared by CBP shows the brown boxes filled with tightly wrapped bundles of the alleged drugs. Port Director Carlos Rodriguez of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry emphasized that the officers’ use of nonintrusive inspection technology was key to the successful takedown. He stated, “Within a shipment of salad greens, our frontline officers discovered contraband that does not belong on any holiday table.” The CBP’s Office of Field Operations seized both the illicit cargo and the commercial vehicle involved. Homeland Security Investigations has since opened a criminal inquiry into the smuggling effort.
The bust comes just days before Thanksgiving, marking one of the larger methamphetamine seizures at the South Texas port of entry this year. According to the news release, the seizure is part of a pattern of similar incidents, with over 31 million pounds of methamphetamine concealed in shipments such as peppers, tomatoes, and other produce having been confiscated at the same port in recent months. No additional details surrounding the driver or any arrests have been released as the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights the growing challenges in border security and the need for advanced detection technologies to counter increasingly sophisticated smuggling tactics.
While the immediate financial impact of the seizure is not expected to be significant, the ongoing border security concerns have broader implications for trade and public safety. The U.S. government continues to invest in border infrastructure and technology to combat such threats. This recent bust underscores the persistent challenges faced by border agencies in preventing the flow of illicit narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border.