CBP Says Shipment Of Cucumbers And Jalapeños Concealed Nearly $20 Million Worth Of Drugs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said officers found more than $19 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin concealed within a shipment of cucumbers and jalapeños.

CBP Office of Field Operations officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas on Tuesday encountered a tractor-trailer making entry into the U.S. from Mexico with a shipment manifested as cucumbers and jalapeños. The truck was selected for inspection utilizing non-intrusive equipment and a canine team.

Officers physically examined the shipment and removed 26 packages of alleged heroin weighing a total of 7.53 pounds and worth an estimated $144,500. They also removed 8,206 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing a total of 2,217.85 pounds and valued at approximately $19,800,000. In total, the narcotics were valued at $19,944,500.

“Our CBP officers dont skip a beat when it comes to securing our border. This interception illustrates the important work CBP does to secure our border from harmful narcotics,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, said in a statement

CBP seized the drugs and the truck, and Homeland Security Investigations launched a criminal investigation.