Officers at the Pharr International Bridge in South Texas uncovered more than $10.3 million worth of methamphetamine during an inspection at the cargo facility. The discovery, made on November 21, occurred when a truck arriving at the port was referred for additional checks. Using nonintrusive inspection technology, officials identified irregularities in the shipment of salad greens and conducted a physical search, revealing 500 packages of suspected methamphetamine concealed within the salad leaves.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations seized both the illicit cargo and the commercial vehicle involved. A photo shared by CBP showed the brown boxes filled with tightly wrapped bundles of the alleged drugs. “Within a shipment of salad greens, our frontline officers discovered contraband that does not belong on any holiday table,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “As this seizure aptly illustrates, our officers’ use of tools and technology were instrumental in this massive takedown of hard narcotics,” he added.
The bust comes just days before Thanksgiving, marking one of the larger methamphetamine seizures at the South Texas port of entry this year. No additional details surrounding the driver or any arrests have been released as the investigation is ongoing. Homeland Security Investigations has since opened a criminal inquiry into the smuggling effort.