CBP Seizes Nearly $15 Million in Methamphetamine Hidden in Celery Shipment in Pharr
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
PHARR, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized nearly $15 million in suspected methamphetamine that was hidden in a shipment declared as fresh celery at the Pharr International Bridge, federal authorities reported on Wednesday. The seizure occurred on August 15 at the bridge's cargo facilities when CBP agents inspected a trailer coming from Reynosa, Mexico, carrying a load declared as fresh celery. The vehicle was sent for a secondary inspection, where officers used non-intrusive inspection equipment and detected anomalies in the shipment. During a physical inspection, officers found 721 packages of suspected methamphetamine, weighing a combined total of 1,675.51 pounds, approximately 760 kilograms, concealed within the cargo, according to CBP. Authorities estimated the value of the seized drugs at $14,978,000. "This successful methamphetamine seizure is a direct result of our officers' keen intuition, combined with our sophisticated tools and technology," said Carlos Rodríguez, director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzaldúas Port of Entry. Rodríguez added that officers are trained to detect beyond what is visible and emphasized the use of scanning equipment to combat attempts to illegally introduce narcotics into the country. CBP reported that both the narcotics and the vehicle were confiscated. Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have initiated a criminal investigation related to the seizure. Authorities did not provide information in the statement regarding potential arrests or individuals charged in connection with the shipment.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
