Federal Agents Seize Almost $500K In Methamphetamine Hidden In Shipment Of Tomatillos

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Little tip for smugglers trying to bring illegal drugs into the United States: stop trying to hide them in shipments of food because U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are going to find it.

Example: This past Sunday at approximately 12:35 p.m., CBP agents at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in California seized 378 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $453,600 hidden in a shipment of fresh tomatillos.

The big bust took place when CBP officers were checking out a 35-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer applying for admission into the United States from Mexico with a manifest that claimed to be a shipment of tomatillos.

The driver of the truck was a valid border crossing card holder, but he was still referred for further examination in the secondary inspection area, according to a Customs and Border Protection press release.

Using non-intrusive scanning technology, the officers “observed irregularities” which led them to the discovery of 50 packages concealed within the shipment of tomatillos.

Lo and behold, the 50 packages ended up containing 378 pounds of meth.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and the tractor-trailer and the driver was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

“The dedication and vigilance demonstrated by our officers in protecting our nation’s borders while enhancing economic prosperity truly reflect the culture and values of CBP,” stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa. “This seizure highlights criminal organizations’ efforts to smuggle narcotics in agricultural products and showcases our officers’ skills in detecting and preventing harmful drugs from entering our country and communities.”

So it doesn’t matter whether smugglers try to hide their drugs inside shipments of lettuce, cucumbers and bell peppers, squash, or tomatillos, the men and women of United States Customs and Border Protection are going to find it.