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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations officers in Texas recently found and seized methamphetamine worth over $6.7 million concealed in a shipment of tomatillos. The meth was being brought into the United States inside a tractor-trailer making entry from Mexico.
The massive drug seizure was made after CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility forced the tractor-trailer to undergo a secondary inspection. During that inspection, which included utilizing non-intrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, the agents found and extracted 166 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 753.98 pounds concealed inside the shipment that had been manifested as tomatillos.
The seized narcotics had an estimated street value of $6,740,100. The drugs and vehicle were seized by the CBP officers while Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
“The cargo environment continues to be a top choice for trafficking organizations but our CBP officers along with our tools and technology are a force to be reckoned with,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
USA: CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas intercepted a significant shipment of methamphetamine on June 10. The drugs were concealed within a shipment labeled as tomatillos.
Officers utilized non-intrusive inspection equipment and a canine unit… pic.twitter.com/7VZEKXhzyd
— Crime Intel (@WorldCrimeIntel) June 13, 2025
Smugglers will often use shipments of tomatillos to try and conceal their illegal drugs as they try to get it into the United States.
Tomato, Tomato!
Last Sunday, @CBP officers assigned at the #Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized 378 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of fresh tomatillos, an estimated street value of over $453K. Read more here: https://t.co/yQrfIb6Ezw pic.twitter.com/ttltGUKgqx— Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki (@DFOSanDiegoCA) August 9, 2024
In January of this year, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge intercepted $21.2 million worth of methamphetamine concealed within another tractor-trailer shipment that had been manifested as tomatillos.
Last Wednesday, @CBPSouthTexas officers intercepted 2k+ lbs of meth hidden in a shipment manifested as tomatillos. Officers used advanced imaging technology and a canine team to stop the narcotics, with a $21.2M street value, from reaching the streets. ➡️https://t.co/V6NldMpFhY pic.twitter.com/VO67lvzNf7
— CBP (@CBP) January 14, 2025