More than $12M worth of meth seized in Texas, CBP says

A man was arrested at a point of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Saturday with more than $12 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says.

In a statement Tuesday, the agency confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old Mexican citizen hauling a “commercial shipment of frozen strawberries” from Mexico that was discovered to be a cover for “906 pounds of methamphetamine” that was concealed in his truck’s trailer.

{mosads}The arrest occurred at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on the border of Texas and Mexico, according to CBP, with the help of detection equipment and drug-sniffing dogs.

“This was an outstanding interception our officers accomplished this weekend,” Port Director David Gonzalez, who oversees the port of entry, said in the press release. “Our officers’ astute sense of awareness and tenacity is unparalleled and truly commendable.”

The packages totaled $12.7 million in value, according to CBP, and the suspect’s name was not released in the report.

His arrest comes weeks after the largest-ever seizure of illegal fentanyl made by CBP at the end of January in neighboring Arizona.

President Trump declared a national emergency last week to build a wall along the southern border after Congress did not provide him with the more than $5 billion he requested. He has argued the declaration was needed to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States.

However, the order has been challenged in court by 16 states, and critics have accused the administration of exaggerated claims while arguing the border is not facing a national emergency.