U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of chayote squash at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in South Texas, officials announced.
The cargo, valued at $8.9 million, was concealed in 3,770 packages inside a tractor-trailer arriving from Reynosa, Mexico.
The seizure was the result of a secondary inspection involving nonintrusive scanning equipment and a canine unit. According to a CBP statement, officers referred the vehicle for further examination after identifying potential anomalies during routine inspection procedures.
"Our CBP officers continue to take down load after load of harmful narcotics, illustrating the tireless work of securing our border and safeguarding our communities," said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, who oversees operations at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. The narcotics and vehicle were seized, and special agents from Homeland Security Investigations have launched a criminal inquiry into the smuggling attempt.
The seizure is part of a broader trend involving the concealment of narcotics in produce shipments along the U.S.-Mexico border in the last few months. Back in November, CBP officers at the same Pharr facility uncovered a $31 million shipment of methamphetamine hidden among serrano peppers. That load, weighing approximately 2,155 pounds, was also found inside a tractor-trailer entering from Mexico and flagged after an X-ray scan raised suspicions.
Similar methods have been reported in California. In August, CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility intercepted 629 pounds of meth concealed in a celery shipment. In that episode, the meth had been packed into 508 separate packages and carried an estimated street value of $755,000.
No arrests have been announced in the latest chayote seizure, but investigations remain ongoing.
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