US Border and Customs Protection (CBP) are holding a truck driver in custody after officers found $13m worth of methamphetaminehidden in a trailer of frozen strawberries he was hauling from Mexico to the United States.
CBP officers stationed at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility encountered the 42-year-old truck driver, a Mexican citizen, who was delivering a commercial shipment of frozen strawberries from Mexico on Saturday, the agency said in a statement.
During its inspection of the shipment, CBP officers uncovered 350 packages of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the strawberry-filled trailer.
Law enforcement seized 906 pounds, or 411kg, of methamphetamine that was worth approximately $12.7m, CBP said. It also seized the trailer.
“This was an outstanding interception our officers accomplished this weekend,” David Gonzalez, the port director of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, told CNN.
“Our officers’ astute sense of awareness and tenacity is unparalleled and truly commendable.”
The truck driver is under the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents as they conduct further investigation.
The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, where the trailer containing $13m worth of methamphetamine was discovered, is a major entry port near the southern border. It oversees both commercial and passenger vehicles.
Texas officials estimate that about 175,000 vehicles cross the bridge in one month.
