Choosing the proper watermelon could be difficult. Typically they’re not ripe, or possibly they’ve too many seeds.
Then there’s the chance the “melons” are literally $5 million price of methamphetamine painted to appear like fruit to allow them to be smuggled throughout the border.
That was the sight U.S. Customs and Border Safety officers encountered Friday, when a 29-year-old man drove a business tractor-trailer to the Otay Mesa business facility and tried to enter San Diego County.
His manifest mentioned he was transport watermelons, and officers directed him to a secondary screening spot for additional inspection, the company mentioned in a press release.
Officers found 1,220 packages of methamphetamine, wrapped in paper and painted two shades of inexperienced to imitate a watermelon, in response to authorities.
(U.S. Customs and Border Safety)
The cargo was taken off the truck and, upon a more in-depth look, officers found a seedy state of affairs: 1,220 packages of methamphetamine, wrapped in paper and painted two shades of inexperienced to imitate a watermelon.
The packages weighed 4,587 kilos in whole, with an estimated avenue worth of $5 million, in response to authorities.
Officers seized the meth and the tractor-trailer. The motive force was turned over to the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety. There was no different info out there concerning the driver.
“As drug cartels proceed to evolve their smuggling strategies, we are going to proceed discovering new and higher methods to forestall these harmful medication and different contraband from getting into the nation,” Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez mentioned in a press release.
Faux watermelons will not be the one produce being employed in drug smuggling. Earlier this month, on the identical border checkpoint, officers intercepted 629 kilos of methamphetamine hidden amongst bunches of celery.
Officers in that case additionally seized the tractor-trailer and narcotics and turned the driving force, a 34-year-old man, over to Homeland Safety.
Officers have additionally not too long ago seized shipments of cocaine and meth buried in jalapeño paste, and practically 3,000 kilos of methamphetamine bundled with carrots.
The seizures are a part of the CBP’s counter-fentanyl effort that stretches from Southern California to Arizona.
