U.S. Border Patrol Intercepts Pounds of Marijuana Stuffed In Fake Carrot Packaging From Mexico

by Jean Marie Abellana / Jan 15, 2016 11:24 AM EST

Pounds of marijuana were found stuffed inside fake carrots that were to be transported across the U.S. border. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Border officers of the United States were able to intercept and seized a significant amount of illicit marijuana stuffed inside carrot-shaped packages, Huffington Post reported.

The carrot-like packages, which concealed 2,493 pounds of marijuana, were mixed with real carrots, said the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials Wednesday. The officers were able to stop the shipment of carrots from entering the country through Pharr, Texas Port of Entry, about 230 miles from San Antonio, California.

Specifically, CNN reported that the trucks hauling the carrot products "crossed the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge along the Texas-Mexico border near the Gulf of Mexico."

Officials were able to recover more than 2,800 fake carrots with a street value of no more than $500,000.

"Once again, drug smuggling organizations have demonstrated their creativity in attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border," said Port Director Efrain Solis, Jr.

The officers assigned to the area encountered a vehicle carrying a commercial shipment of fresh carrots. This cargo was reported to have come from Mexico. After undergoing a non-intrusive imaging inspection, the Customs and Border Protection officers conducted another round of inspection on the vehicles together with a canine team. The investigation revealed several packages of suspected illicit narcotics concealed inside bags of carrots.

"Our officers are always ready to meet those challenges and remain vigilant towards any type of illicit activities," Director Solis added.

Currently, the case is still subject to investigation by the Department of Homeland Security.

In November last year, a drug smuggling attempt that used the same strategy also failed. The checkpoint officers were able to seize $2 million worth of alleged cocaine and marijuana that were found in fresh carrot and cucumber packages.

The CBP is a border agency in charge of managing, controlling, and protecting the United States borders' official ports of entry.