US border agents seize $5 million worth of meth hidden in fake watermelons
By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)
Drug smugglers are broadening their horizons in their attempts to get illegal drugs into the U.S. This time, border agents intercepted a truck carrying more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine. The drugs were disguised to look like over 1,000 watermelons at a border crossing in San Diego.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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$5m of meth disguised as watermelons seized at border
Click to see story on The IndependentMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsTwo tons of meth disguised as watermelon seized at border; valued over $5 million
Click to see story on USA TodayMeth worth nearly $6 million found in fake watermelon, celery shipments in California
Click to see story on CBS NewsSeedy discovery at U.S.-Mexico border: $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on Los Angeles Times$5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons found at California customs checkpoint
Click to see story on NBC NewsStrange produce: smugglers disguise meth as melons in US
Click to see story on InquirerCustoms officials discover nearly $7 million worth of methamphetamine disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on TVA NouvellesMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVNCBP uncovers $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on NBC LAMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Manila BulletinMeth haul disguised as watermelons fails to fool US border agents
Click to see story on BBC NewsSouthern California CBP officers seize $5 million in meth concealed in watermelon shipment
Click to see story on KVIAMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressMore than $5m worth of crystal meth found disguised as watermelons in California by officials from US border agency
Click to see story on Sky News UKMore than $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons is seized in San Diego, CPB says
Click to see story on abc 7 LA$5 Million Methamphetamine Hidden in ‘Watermelons’ US Border Patrol Finds Two-Colored Bags Imitating Watermelons
Click to see story on Digi 24Watermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on Fox8Watermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KXANMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on WPRI 12Drug Packages Disguised as Watermelons Seized at Otay Mesa Border Crossing: Officials
Click to see story on Times of San DiegoWatermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KTSMWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WSPAMeth worth nearly $6 million found in fake watermelon, celery shipments in California
Click to see story on WLTXSeedy discovery at US-Mexico border: $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Click to see story on Hawaii Tribune-Herald$5 million in methamphetamine disguised as watermelons seized at border
Click to see story on Scripps NewsWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KLFYWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WVNSMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on NewsdayWatermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WNTZ FOX 48Watermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on BorderReportFake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Irish Independent$5M worth of meth disguised as watermelon shipment seized at border in Calif.: ‘Seedy situation’
Click to see story on New York PostStrange produce: Smugglers disguise meth as melons in US
Click to see story on The Straits TimesMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on MY NorthwestMore than 2,000kg of meth disguised as watermelons seized at US border
Click to see story on 9NewsEU seizes drugs disguised as watermelons at the crossroads with Mexico
Click to see story on Reforma$5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on WKRCOver $5 Million Worth of Meth Seized in Watermelon Shipments at Otay Mesa Border
Click to see story on The Epoch TimesFruit Scheme Turns Sour: Officers Seize $5 Million Worth Of Meth Disguised as Watermelon at Southern Border
Click to see story on The New York SunMeth worth over $5M concealed in fake watermelon packaging seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
Untracked Bias
Fake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Shropshire StarThousands of methamphetamine “watermelons” seized at US-Mexico border | Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Click to see story on 大纪元 www.epochtimes.comUS Border Patrol Finds $5 Million Worth of Meth in Mexican ‘Melons’
Click to see story on Het Belang van LimburgUS Border Patrol Finds $5 Million Worth of Meth in Mexican ‘Melons’
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on My Mother Lode$5m worth of meth seized disguised as watermelons by artistic Mexican smuggler
Click to see story on Express USFake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Jersey Evening PostWatermelon ice: Millions worth of meth discovered in fruit shipment at border
Click to see story on TAG24US Customs Finds 2 Tons of Meth in the Form of Watermelons
Click to see story on rtl.nlFake watermelons held $5M worth of meth, Border Patrol says
Click to see story on livenowfox.comFake watermelons: the $5 million meth cache
Click to see story on Telemundo 52This comes just a week after officials at the same border crossing discovered nearly 300 kilograms of meth hidden in a shipment of celery. Combined, these two seizures account for more than $6 million worth of illicit drugs.
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Over 4,000 pounds of methamphetamine, wrapped in plastic and painted in different shades of green, were seized by border agents. The fake watermelons were also hidden among real watermelons, and shipped across the Otay Mesa border crossing.
Officials say this method of smuggling drugs by concealing them within produce is nothing new. While banana shipments are usually a popular choice, gouda cheese and avocados are known to be favorites for smugglers.
U.S. Cutoms and Border Protection officials stated that their officers flagged the truck, which was listed as watermelons. Further inspection revealed the massive haul of methamphetamine. The driver of the truck was handed over to Homeland Security as the investigation continues.
Mexican drug cartels remain the leading producers and suppliers of methamphetamine to the United States.
Karah Rucker
DRUG SMUGGLERS ARE BROADENING THEIR HORIZONS IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO GET ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO THE U-S.
BORDER AGENTS INTERCEPTED A TRUCK CARRYING MORE THAN $five-million-dollars WORTH OF METHAMPHETAMINE DISGUISED INSIDE A SHIPMENT OF OVER ONE-THOUSAND WATERMELONS AT A BORDER CROSSING IN SAN DIEGO.
THIS COMES JUST A WEEK AFTER OFFICIALS AT THE SAME BORDER CROSSING DISCOVERED NEARLY 300 KILOGRAMS OF METH HIDDEN IN A SHIPMENT OF CELERY. COMBINED THESE TWO SEIZURES ARE WORTH $SIX-MILLION-DOLLARS.
OVER FOUR-THOUSAND-POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE, WRAPPED IN PLASTIC AND PAINTED IN SHADES OF GREEN TO RESEMBLE THE FRUIT, WERE SEIZED BY ORDER AGENTS. THE DRUGS WERE CLEVERLY HIDDEN AMONG REAL WATERMELONS IN a SHIPMENT THAT WAS INTERCEPTED AT THE OTAY MESA BORDER CROSSING.
OFFICIALS SAY THIS METHOD OF SMUGGLING DRUGS BY CONCEALING THEM WITHIN PRODUCE IS NOTHING NEW. WHILE BANANA SHIPMENTS HAVE BEEN A POPULAR CHOICE, OFFICERS HAVE ALSO RECENTLY FOUND NARCOTICS HIDDEN INSIDE GOUDA CHEESE AND AVOCADOS.
US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICIALS STATED THAT THEIR OFFICERS FLAGGED THE TRUCK, WHICH WAS LISTED AS WATERMELONS. BUT FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THE MASSIVE HAUL OF METHAMPHETAMINE. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS HANDED OVER TO HOMELAND SECURITY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS REMAIN THE LEADING PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO THE UNITED STATES.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AND HAVE UPDATES ON THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO CURB THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY- AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU NEVER MISS A STORY.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
$5m of meth disguised as watermelons seized at border
Click to see story on The IndependentMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsTwo tons of meth disguised as watermelon seized at border; valued over $5 million
Click to see story on USA TodayMeth worth nearly $6 million found in fake watermelon, celery shipments in California
Click to see story on CBS NewsSeedy discovery at U.S.-Mexico border: $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on Los Angeles Times$5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons found at California customs checkpoint
Click to see story on NBC NewsStrange produce: smugglers disguise meth as melons in US
Click to see story on InquirerCustoms officials discover nearly $7 million worth of methamphetamine disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on TVA NouvellesMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVNCBP uncovers $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on NBC LAMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Manila BulletinMeth haul disguised as watermelons fails to fool US border agents
Click to see story on BBC NewsSouthern California CBP officers seize $5 million in meth concealed in watermelon shipment
Click to see story on KVIAMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressMore than $5m worth of crystal meth found disguised as watermelons in California by officials from US border agency
Click to see story on Sky News UKMore than $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons is seized in San Diego, CPB says
Click to see story on abc 7 LA$5 Million Methamphetamine Hidden in ‘Watermelons’ US Border Patrol Finds Two-Colored Bags Imitating Watermelons
Click to see story on Digi 24Watermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on Fox8Watermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KXANMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on WPRI 12Drug Packages Disguised as Watermelons Seized at Otay Mesa Border Crossing: Officials
Click to see story on Times of San DiegoWatermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KTSMWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WSPAMeth worth nearly $6 million found in fake watermelon, celery shipments in California
Click to see story on WLTXSeedy discovery at US-Mexico border: $5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Click to see story on Hawaii Tribune-Herald$5 million in methamphetamine disguised as watermelons seized at border
Click to see story on Scripps NewsWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on KLFYWatermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WVNSMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on NewsdayWatermelon shipment was 2 tons of plastic-wrapped meth, CBP says
Click to see story on WNTZ FOX 48Watermelon wrapping used to hide 2 tons of meth, CBP says
Click to see story on BorderReportFake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Irish Independent$5M worth of meth disguised as watermelon shipment seized at border in Calif.: ‘Seedy situation’
Click to see story on New York PostStrange produce: Smugglers disguise meth as melons in US
Click to see story on The Straits TimesMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on MY NorthwestMore than 2,000kg of meth disguised as watermelons seized at US border
Click to see story on 9NewsEU seizes drugs disguised as watermelons at the crossroads with Mexico
Click to see story on Reforma$5 million worth of meth disguised as watermelons
Click to see story on WKRCOver $5 Million Worth of Meth Seized in Watermelon Shipments at Otay Mesa Border
Click to see story on The Epoch TimesFruit Scheme Turns Sour: Officers Seize $5 Million Worth Of Meth Disguised as Watermelon at Southern Border
Click to see story on The New York SunMeth worth over $5M concealed in fake watermelon packaging seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
Untracked Bias
Fake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Shropshire StarThousands of methamphetamine “watermelons” seized at US-Mexico border | Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Click to see story on 大纪元 www.epochtimes.comUS Border Patrol Finds $5 Million Worth of Meth in Mexican ‘Melons’
Click to see story on Het Belang van LimburgUS Border Patrol Finds $5 Million Worth of Meth in Mexican ‘Melons’
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladMethamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego
Click to see story on My Mother Lode$5m worth of meth seized disguised as watermelons by artistic Mexican smuggler
Click to see story on Express USFake watermelons stuffed with drugs seized at US-Mexico border
Click to see story on Jersey Evening PostWatermelon ice: Millions worth of meth discovered in fruit shipment at border
Click to see story on TAG24US Customs Finds 2 Tons of Meth in the Form of Watermelons
Click to see story on rtl.nlFake watermelons held $5M worth of meth, Border Patrol says
Click to see story on livenowfox.comFake watermelons: the $5 million meth cache
Click to see story on Telemundo 52Straight to your inbox.
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