PHARR, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) announced a series of drug seizures occurring at the Pharr International Bridge along the United States-Mexico border last month; culprits attempted to smuggle large amounts of marijuana—valued at nearly $850,000—into the country stowed alongside hapless supplies of mangos, blueberries, and watermelons.
According to a U.S. CBP press release, on September 28, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a yellow Kenworth tractor trailer carrying watermelons bound for the U.S. Upon referring the truck for secondary inspection, authorities uncovered 108 packages containing just over 1,770 pounds of marijuana—a quantity valued at more than $354,000.
In a separate incident occurring September 30th, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge flagged a white 1995 Freightliner tractor trailer for secondary inspection. There, using non-intrusive imaging and the help of a canine team, the officers extracted 422 packages containing nearly 2,445 pounds of marijuana from a shipment of frozen mangos and blueberries. The estimated street value of the drugs? Approximately $488,980.
CBF OFO seized the drugs, and cases reportedly remain under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security. No word on the fate of the ill-used fruit was forthcoming, but AndNowUKnow will continue to report on criminals using produce to try to reap ill-gotten gains.
