Nearly $20 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin was seized from a shipment of cucumber and jalapeños coming into the United States from Mexico, authorities said Thursday.
The meth amounted to $19,800,000, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized $144,500 worth of heroin.
The discovery was made Tuesday near the cargo area of the Pharr International Bridge — which spans the Rio Grande River — outside McAllen, Texas.
Agents intercepted the tractor-trailer as it was preparing to cross the border from Mexico. Upon inspection, they found 8,206 packages of meth with a total weight of more than 2,215 pounds, as well as 26 packages of heroin weighing more than seven pounds.
“Our CBP officers do not skip any steps when it comes to securing our border. This seizure illustrates the important work CBP does to secure our border from harmful narcotics,” said Carlos Rodriguez, director of the Hidalgo-Pharr-Anzalduas Port of Entry.
Border patrol agents made similar — though smaller — seizures among fruit and vegetable shipments at the same border crossing in 2021 and last year. Methamphetamine has become one of the most common contraband items seized at the U.S.-Mexico border.