Over $5 million worth of meth found in fake watermelon shipment

WuU.S. border agents have intercepted a truck carrying more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of watermelons at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The drugs were wrapped in plastic that was painted two shades of green to mimic the taste of watermelon and then placed in the middle of a real watermelon.

Police seized a total of 1,220 packages of methamphetamine weighing more than two tons.

Hiding drugs in agricultural products is a common way to smuggle illegal substances across borders — bananas are the most common method, but officials have recently found drugs in Gouda cheese and avocados.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said their officers stopped a truck towing a trailer at the Mexican border in Otay Mesa.

Documents show the driver was delivering watermelons, but upon inspection the package was found to contain methamphetamine.

Also known as crystal meth, it is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant.

The driver was turned over to Homeland Security officials.

The drug seizure comes a week after officials at the same border crossing found nearly 300 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of celery.

The total value of the two cases is $6 million, according to BBC US partner CBS News.

Mexican drug cartels are the largest producers and suppliers of methamphetamine in the United States.

In February, Mexican security forces seized more than 40 tons of drugs in the largest drug laboratory discovered in recent years.

Mexican officials said the lab had more than 200 centrifuges, boilers and condensation chambers – key equipment for making the chemical.

Source: BBC