this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
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A truckload of methamphetamine disguised as a shipment of watermelons was seized at a U.S.-Mexico border crossing in San Diego, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

The methamphetamine, valued at more than $5 million, was found Aug. 16 when the cargo aboard a tractor-trailer from Mexico was unloaded for a detailed inspection, the agency said in a statement.

Among real watermelons, officers found 1,220 packages wrapped in paper colored to look like watermelon skins.

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[–] AGD4@lemmy.world 40 points 2 months ago (4 children)

That was the best they could do? A balloon?

I understand it's a bit deflated, but my god. I reckon the smugglers could've landed at least six figures for a truck sized haul of hard drugs, so surely they could afford a better disguising apparatus than balloons.

Either way good riddance.

[–] jewbacca117@lemmy.world 23 points 2 months ago

I firmly believe the cartels let some shipments get caught. $5 mil of meth really isn't that much.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Maybe worse, it was colored paper. Given the money involved, why not use actual watermelons?!

[–] Thetimefarm@lemm.ee 7 points 2 months ago

Presumably enough still gets through that it's not worth changing anything. We only see what we catch, who knows how much makes it past. It would be unrealistic to check every truck crossing the border thoroughly, so it just has to be good enough.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 months ago

"disguised"

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think whoever came up with that idea was dipping into the product.

[–] Llewellyn@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

You mean in watermelons?

[–] Devdogg@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

First it was celery, then came the watermelons, now get ready for ____________!!

[–] Aarrodri@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago
[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Why does it have ICE tape on it?

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

seized at the US-Mexico border crossing...

Gee I wonder

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

Both are Homeland Security, there are many reasons why they could be working together