Mexican cartels are increasingly using creative methods to smuggle drugs into the U.S., with recent seizures revealing an alarming trend involving imitation fruits and vegetables.
In a recent operation at the San Diego port of Otay Mesa, authorities uncovered around 2 tonnes of methamphetamine disguised as bright green watermelons. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials reported that within a shipment containing actual watermelons, agents found 1,220 fake watermelons concealing 4,587 pounds of meth valued at nearly $6 million. The discovery occurred during a secondary inspection of a truck driven by a 29-year-old man.
Port director Rosa Hernandez described the concealment method as “sophisticated” and emphasized the ongoing evolution of cartel smuggling techniques. “As drug cartels continue to innovate, we are committed to finding new ways to prevent these dangerous drugs from entering our country,” she stated.
This seizure follows a significant discovery by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Georgia, where over 2,500 pounds of meth, valued at $3.2 million, were found hidden among boxes of celery at a farmers market. DEA special agent Robert Murphy noted the scale of this operation was “unbelievable” and indicative of cartel confidence.
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In another instance, border agents at Otay Mesa intercepted a shipment of celery that contained 629 pounds of meth, declared as celery by a 34-year-old driver.
These incidents are part of a broader trend, with previous seizures including 6 tonnes of meth hidden in squash and 3,000 pounds of meth and cocaine found in bins of jalapeño paste. Drugs have also been discovered concealed in shipments of green beans, sugar, flour, and candy.
These seizures are attributed to Operation Apollo, a counter-fentanyl initiative launched in Southern California last October, which has since expanded to Arizona, focusing on intelligence collection and collaborative efforts.
As the DEA observes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, it highlights the urgent need to combat the synthetic drug crisis, which claimed over 107,543 lives last year due to drug poisoning or overdose, according to the CDC. DEA administrator Anne Milgram underscored the severity of the situation, urging public awareness and remembrance of those lost to this crisis.
