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$5 Million Worth of Meth Disguised as Watermelons Seized at California Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility, hidden in fake watermelons.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers confiscated more than $5 million worth of meth disguised within a shipment of watermelon.
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Officers intercepted 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of vegetables.
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Overview

  • The methamphetamine was wrapped in green plastic to resemble watermelons, totaling 1,220 packages.
  • A 29-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer from Mexico was detained and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations.
  • This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, targeting sophisticated smuggling techniques at the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • Less than two weeks earlier, 629 pounds of meth were found hidden in a celery shipment at the same facility.
  • Operation Apollo has expanded from California to Arizona and will soon include Texas and New Mexico.