WASHINGTON: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a large amount of methamphetamine hidden inside popcorn boxes in California. The agents seized 150 pounds of meth placed inside the popcorn boxes, which were part of a massive drug haul that included a total of 388 pounds of methamphetamine, 162 pounds of cocaine, 32 pounds of heroin and 250 pounds of marijuana between June 2 and June 4. A 25-year-old woman was referred for further inspection after a CBP officer noticed an excessive amount of food inside her vehicle as she approached the San Ysidro port of entry.
The port’s imaging system detected anomalies in the popcorn boxes and a canine team was called into assist before a search uncovered large packages of meth hidden inside. During the search, CBP officers extracted 15 packages of meth, weighing 150 pounds, with an estimated value of more than $481,952. Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego noted officers often see bizarre smuggling methods while searching for narcotics. “Smuggling trends continuously fluctuate and CBP officers remain vigilant in combating these attempts,” he said.
