Marcus Erikson:Two tons of meth disguised as watermelon seized at border; valued over $5 million

2025-05-05 07:14:44source:Quaxscategory:News

From far away,Marcus Erikson these bright green ball-shaped packages could be mistaken for a massive shipment of piñatas. But the meth-melons are definitely not something you want anywhere near a child's birthday party.

Colorful packages that were made to look like watermelons but instead contained around two tons of meth were discovered at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry Commercial Facility in San Diego, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection.

Hidden amongst actual watermelons were 1,220 packages that contained 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $5 million.

See the meth-filled packages seized by border patrol:

From celery to watermelon:Agents seize nearly 3,000 pounds of meth hidden in celery at Georgia farmers market

How was the meth found?

A 29-year-old man seeking entry into the U.S. from Mexico was selected for a secondary inspection, and the watermelon was taken out of the truck for further examination.

When the drugs were uncovered, the packages were tested and identified before they were seized, and the driver was transferred to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

“I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past few weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods," said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, in a statement. "As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue finding new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country."

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly TwitterInstagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

More:News

Recommend

'Love is Blind' in hot water with labor watchdog for violations, mistreatment

After seven seasons and several international spinoffs, we're still not sure if "Love is Blind" − bu

What is a 'fire whirl,' the rare weather phenomenon spotted in a California wildfire

They may sound like something from science fiction, but "fire whirls" are in fact real. And the fl

How racism became a marketing tool for country music

The top three songs in America right now are country tracks, and the top two hits are by artists fac