U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted a major drug smuggling attempt last week, uncovering more than 750 pounds of methamphetamine cleverly concealed in a shipment of tomatillos at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility.
According to officials, a tractor-trailer entering from Mexico was flagged for secondary inspection. Using non-intrusive scanning technology and a CBP canine team, officers discovered 166 hidden packages of suspected methamphetamine inside the load.
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In total, the seized narcotics weighed 753.98 pounds, with an estimated street value of $6.74 million.
CBP immediately seized the truck and drugs, and the case has now been turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further criminal inquiry.
“The cargo environment continues to be a top choice for trafficking organizations,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Port Director for the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “But our CBP officers along with our tools and technology are a force to be reckoned with.”
The Pharr International Bridge, a vital commercial crossing between the U.S. and Mexico, is frequently targeted by traffickers attempting to move narcotics under the guise of legitimate produce shipments.
