The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Pharr, Texas, recently intercepted $10.3 million in alleged methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of lettuce.
CBP officers encountered a commercial vehicle attempting to enter the United States from Mexico on Nov. 21. Officers initially inspected the vehicle using nonintrusive inspection equipment. A physical inspection led to the discovery of 500 packages of alleged methamphetamine with a combined weight of 1,153 pounds.
“Within a shipment of salad greens, our frontline officers discovered contraband that does not belong on any holiday table,” Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry port director, said. “As this seizure aptly illustrates, our officers’ use of tools and technology were instrumental in this massive takedown of hard narcotics.”
Officers seized the narcotics and vehicle, and Homeland Security Investigations began a criminal investigation.
CBP also recently announced it has selected 26 public-private partnerships intended to promote cross-border trade and essential travel to the United States. The selections were made under the Reimbursable Services Program. The program allows the private sector and state and local governments to reimburse the agency for additional inspection services that would not otherwise be available.