US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have intercepted a truck carrying over $5mn worth of methamphetamine disguised as watermelons at the US-Mexico border. The discovery was made at the Otay Mesa commercial facility when a 29-year-old driver attempted to enter San Diego County, claiming to be transporting a shipment of watermelons on August 16.

Upon closer inspection, officers uncovered 1,220 packages of methamphetamine, cleverly wrapped in paper and painted in shades of green to resemble the fruit. The total weight of the drugs was over two tonnes, with an estimated street value of $5mn. The driver was promptly handed over to the US Department of Homeland Security, and the tractor-trailer was seized.

This incident is part of a broader trend in which drug cartels are using increasingly creative methods to smuggle narcotics across the border. Just a week prior, CBP officers at the same checkpoint intercepted nearly 300 kilograms of meth hidden among a shipment of celery. Other recent seizures have involved drugs concealed in shipments of bananas, Gouda cheese, avocados, and even jalapeño paste.

“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.

"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."

Mexican drug cartels remain the primary suppliers of methamphetamine to the United States, and large-scale operations, such as a recent seizure of over 40 tonnes of the drug in Mexico, underscore the scale of the issue.