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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Texas recently intercepted and seized $7.77 million worth of meth. The narcotics were trying to be bought into the United States by a smuggler who attempted to conceal them within a semi-truck’s shipment of Persian limes.
On January 6, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas selected a tractor trailer making entry into the U.S. from Mexico for a secondary inspection. It was during this secondary inspection that the officers, utilizing non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment and by physically inspecting the cargo discovered 357 packages of alleged meth weighing 869.72 pounds hidden withing the shipment of limes.
The Customs and Border Protection officers then seized the narcotics and vehicle and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated a criminal investigation into the attempted drug smuggling.
“Our CBP officers continue to remain vigilant and used all available tools and resources to intercept this load of methamphetamine,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
.@DFOLaredo @CBP officers seize more than $7M in methamphetamine at #Pharr International Bridge in commercial truck hauling limes. @HSI_SanAntonio is investigating. Read more here: https://t.co/LvCws2lC74 pic.twitter.com/kYYnz9xRQS
— CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) January 10, 2025
This was the second major drug smuggling bust by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the state of Texas in the span of a little over a week.
Over a span of two days between Christmas and New Year’s Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas seized over $6.3 million worth of narcotics that a drug smuggler was trying to bring into the country.
On Saturday, Dec. 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a total of 2,708.15 pounds of alleged marijuana with a street value of more than $6 million that had been concealed within a 2007 Freightliner tractor trailer.
That bust, along with another one that occurred the day before on Friday, Dec. 27, brought the CBP officers’ two day haul to over $6.3 million worth of illegal drugs.
Two weeks prior to that, CBP agents in Laredo seized over 757 pounds of meth worth over $6.9 million.