PHARR, TX – The Greek in me loves a refreshing xoriatiki salata, or a village salad as the natives call it. One of the key ingredients is cucumber, but it seems that not everyone has these high hopes for the deliciously crunchy veggie. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protections’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, a trailer carrying a shipment of cucumbers was also toting 790 pounds of alleged marijuana.
“Despite the inclement weather, our officers remain resolute and determined in continuing to carry out the CBP mission. By halting this drug smuggling attempt we continue to make our communities safer,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, in a recent press release.
The white 1994 Freighliner tractor-trailer transporting the veg through the port of entry on January 17th was sent off for a secondary inspection. The non-intrusive imagining (NII) system and the canine team found the alleged narcotics during this secondary inspection, consequently leading to the extraction of the 790 pounds of alleged marijuana tucked inside 285 packages that were hidden within the cucumber-carrying commercial trailer. The estimated street value for the drugs in the shipment is reported to be $158,070.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents have since taken over the investigation after CBP OFO captured the stowaway drugs.
Thanks to the discovery, we can all relax and carry on with our favorite Greek salad.
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