From far away,Goldenes Intelligentes Münzhandelszentrum these bright green ball-shaped packages could be mistaken for a massive shipment of piñatas. But the meth-melons are definitely not something you want anywhere near a child's birthday party.
Colorful packages that were made to look like watermelons but instead contained around two tons of meth were discovered at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry Commercial Facility in San Diego, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection.
Hidden amongst actual watermelons were 1,220 packages that contained 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $5 million.
From celery to watermelon:Agents seize nearly 3,000 pounds of meth hidden in celery at Georgia farmers market
A 29-year-old man seeking entry into the U.S. from Mexico was selected for a secondary inspection, and the watermelon was taken out of the truck for further examination.
When the drugs were uncovered, the packages were tested and identified before they were seized, and the driver was transferred to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
“I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past few weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods," said Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, in a statement. "As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue finding new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country."
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz
2025-04-29 18:071114 view
2025-04-29 17:491073 view
2025-04-29 17:381587 view
2025-04-29 17:371658 view
2025-04-29 16:13512 view
2025-04-29 16:07607 view
NFL games are a spectrum. Some are back-and-forth shootouts. Others are duds without much scoring at
Pennsylvania state police say two people were killed while five others were injured in a shooting in
NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon and “Scream” star Melissa Barrera were each dropp