$14.7M in meth hidden in lettuce shipment seized at Texas border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas seized $14.7 million worth of methamphetamine (1,644.64 pounds) hidden inside a lettuce shipment from Mexico on May 16, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security launched a criminal investigation following the discovery of 307 concealed drug packages during a secondary inspection triggered by imaging technology irregularities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in South Texas intercepted a shipment of 1,644.64 pounds (746 kg) of suspected methamphetamine on May 16, 2026. The drugs, concealed within a commercial tractor trailer carrying lettuce from Reynosa, Mexico, had an estimated street value of $14.7 million. Officers detected irregularities using nonintrusive imaging technology during a secondary inspection of the truck. The physical inspection revealed 307 packages of alleged methamphetamine hidden inside the shipment. Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry Director Carlos Rodriguez stated that the seizure would prevent the narcotics from reaching American streets. The Pharr International Bridge is one of the busiest commercial crossings along the Texas-Mexico border, serving as a key entry point for produce and other goods. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has opened a criminal investigation into the incident. CBP officers seized both the drugs and the vehicle as part of the operation. The agency credited its officers’ commitment to border security for the successful interception.
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