NEW YORK, Aug 21: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in California intercepted a significant drug shipment last week, uncovering $5 million worth of methamphetamine concealed as watermelons. The discovery occurred at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in San Diego on Friday.

According to a CBP statement released on Tuesday, a 29-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer was stopped by officers as he attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The driver claimed he was transporting a load of watermelons. Following initial inspection, the vehicle and its cargo were referred for further examination.

In the secondary inspection area, officers unloaded the truck and discovered 1,220 packages disguised as watermelons. Upon testing, these packages were identified as methamphetamine, totaling 4,587 pounds. The estimated street value of the seized drugs exceeds $5 million.

The narcotics and the tractor-trailer were seized by CBP, and the driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further inquiry.

Rosa E. Hernandez, port director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, praised the team's efforts: “I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past few weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods. 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.”

This seizure follows a similar incident at the same facility just one week prior, where CBP officers intercepted 629 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment of celery. That seizure had an estimated street value of $755,000.

Both operations are part of Operation Apollo, a comprehensive anti-fentanyl initiative launched in Southern California last October and expanded to Arizona in April. The operation focuses on intelligence collection and collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to enhance efforts in combating fentanyl smuggling into the U.S.