More Than 5,000lbs Of Meth Found Hidden In Kale Shipment At Southern Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have announced that border agents discovered more than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a shipment of kale at the southern border.

According to authorities, a shipment of kale was seized at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in California after a CBP agent found over $38 million worth of methamphetamine inside.

CBP detailed the incident in a press release on May 30, revealing that the discovery came after a CBP agent had referred a 34-year-old male driver of a tractor trailer for further examination following the initial inspection. Upon conducting a non-intrusive inspection of the tractor trailer — which had a shipment manifest stating that it was transporting kale — agents observed irregularities within the items inside the truck. A thorough examination of the shipment led to the discovery of 268 packages concealed inside the kale.

According to the press release, CBP agents encountered the smuggler at approximately 12:08 in the afternoon on May 27.

After testing the contents of the packages, authorities confirmed that they contained roughly 5,788.41 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of around $38,070,910.

Otay Mesa Cargo Facility port director Rosa Hernandez spoke out about the discovery.

“The collaborative effort of our CBP officers to achieve a common goal is remarkably inspiring,” Hernandez said. “Our officers exemplify this every day as they dedicate themselves to protecting and serving their communities with unwavering commitment and outstanding work.”

The driver of the truck was detained following the discovery of the drugs — and has since been transferred into the custody of Homeland Security Investigations to further investigate the matter, while the drugs and the truck were seized by CBP.

This news comes just a few days after CBP agents seized roughly $1.7 million worth of cocaine hidden on a commercial bus at Hidalgo International Bridge in Texas.

“Our frontline CBP officers remain dedicated to our border security mission and seizures like this one underscore that commitment to the mission,” said Carlos Rodriguez, port director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

“Our officers continue to utilize an effective combination of experience, technology and canines to zero-in on hard narcotics loads that try to blend in with regular traffic,” Rodriguez added.