U.S. Customs and Border Protection seize methamphetamine in Mexican broccoli load

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility threw a monkey wrench into efforts by drug-smugglers to move illicit substances this weekend by intercepting $8,421,500 worth of alleged methamphetamine in a commercial shipment of fresh produce arriving from Mexico.

“This interception of dangerous drugs truly exemplifies the teamwork of our officers working at our cargo facility,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “With the use of high-tech equipment such as our x-ray systems, our officers are able to detect anomalies within shipments and target those areas of interest, which can produce positive results such as this significant interdiction.”

On March 28, 2021, a tractor/trailer hauling a commercial shipment of fresh broccoli arrived from Mexico at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility and a CBP officer referred the conveyance to the non-intrusive imaging (NII) system as part of a secondary examination. Officers conducting a thorough secondary inspection were able to detect packages of alleged methamphetamine. 

CBP officers removed and seized 264 packages weighing 421 pounds (191 kg) of the drug and seized the tractor/trailer as well. The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).