CBP Finds Nearly $24 Million Worth of Methamphetamine in Papaya Shipment From Mexico

A shipment of papayas from Mexico contained methamphetamine worth more than $23 million that was seized by officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas.

The illegal drugs were hidden inside a tractor-trailer carrying the papayas, CBP said in a statement on July 9.

“This massive methamphetamine seizure reflects the dangerous reality of the drug threat our officers face every day and the effective utilization of experience and technology to zero in and take down these shipments,” said Carlos Rodríguez, director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas port of entry.

The discovery occurred on July 6, when CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge inspected a commercial trailer entering from Mexico with a shipment of fruit.

During a physical inspection, agents found 384 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing more than 2500 pounds hidden in the vehicle.

The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of almost $24 million.

The CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) seized the narcotics and the trailer, and special agents from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office launched a criminal investigation.

In late June, CBP agents in the El Paso area seized 127.3 pounds of methamphetamine in two separate incidents, according to a June 30 CBP press release.

One of those incidents occurred at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing when a 49-year-old U.S. citizen from Mexico was driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline. During the initial inspection, a CBP service dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

An X-ray of the car confirmed the presence of anomalies in the side panels, leading CBP agents to find 40 packages in a hidden compartment.

The contents of the packages tested positive for methamphetamine, with a total weight of 50 pounds. CBP agents arrested the woman, who was turned over to HSI special agents to face charges of importing controlled substances.

The second incident occurred on June 28 at the Ysleta international crossing after a 30-year-old Mexican citizen driving a Chrysler Pacifica SUV attempted to enter the United States.

During inspection, a service dog alerted handlers to the presence of narcotics.

Agents located a hidden compartment in the vehicle with 19 packages. The contents tested positive for methamphetamine, with a total weight of 77 pounds.

The woman was also arrested and turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety for prosecution.