Why Does the Watermelon Look Like That? ... The Identity of the Mexican Cargo Caught by U.S. Customs

Wrapping a Drug-Filled Bundle with Watermelon Patterned Packaging

A group that cunningly smuggled a large quantity of drugs disguised as watermelons was caught by U.S. Customs authorities.

On the 21st (local time), according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), authorities recently uncovered a group smuggling a large amount of methamphetamine hidden inside cargo disguised as watermelons near the southern border area of San Diego, California, seizing all the methamphetamine and the cargo truck.

CBP agents noticed suspicious behavior from a 29-year-old male truck driver attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico carrying cargo that appeared to be watermelons and conducted further investigation.

Methamphetamine smuggling intercepted by US CBP. [Image provided by US CBP website]

Upon closely inspecting the cargo loaded on the truck, agents found that what appeared to be watermelons from a distance were actually bundles of paper wrapped in watermelon-patterned packaging. Inside 1,220 bundles was methamphetamine, with a total weight of 4,587 pounds. CBP reported that the estimated street value of the seized methamphetamine exceeds $5 million (approximately 6.7 billion KRW).

Rosa Hernandez, the regional head of CBP, stated, "Since drug cartels continue to advance their smuggling techniques, we will keep finding new and better ways to prevent the domestic inflow of these dangerous drugs and other contraband." Authorities added that this seizure is a result of 'Operation Apollo,' a fentanyl smuggling prevention initiative that began in late October last year in Southern California and expanded to Arizona by April this year.

A group attempting to smuggle cocaine hidden in tubes disguised as rose stems.
[Image source=SCMP]

This is not the first case of drugs being cleverly disguised for smuggling. On the 21st of last month, a group attempting to smuggle cocaine hidden in tubes disguised as rose stems from Hong Kong was caught by local police. At that time, police discovered green tubes disguised as rose stems in a container in Kwai Chung and seized 42 kg of cocaine. The estimated street value of the hidden cocaine was about 33 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 5.85 billion KRW).