U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered nearly $15 million worth of methamphetamine concealed inside a commercial celery shipment entering Texas, the agency announced.

The seizure took place Aug. 15 at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility near the U.S.-Mexico border. A tractor-trailer arriving from Reynosa, Mexico, carried a manifested load of fresh produce, and officers referred the vehicle for additional inspection, according to a CBP announcement.

1,675 pounds of methamphetamine removed

CBP personnel examined the commercial cargo using nonintrusive inspection equipment, the large-scale X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems the agency deploys at ports of entry to scan trailers without unloading them. The technology identified anomalies that prompted officers to conduct a physical search, and inspectors discovered hundreds of packages containing suspected narcotics within the shipment.

Authorities removed 721 packages during the inspection. CBP reported the bundles contained 1,675.5 pounds of methamphetamine, which officials estimated had a street value of $14.978 million. The agency also seized the tractor-trailer involved in the crossing.

"This massive seizure illustrates the importance of our border security mission and our commitment to keeping our communities safe," said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, who oversees the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. Rodriguez credited frontline personnel with preventing dangerous drugs from reaching American communities. CBP announced the interception Wednesday.

Crossing handles substantial produce trade

The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge connects Pharr, Texas, with Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and its cargo facility handles commercial traffic moving between Mexico and the United States. The crossing is a major gateway for Mexican fresh produce entering the country, and Mexico is the leading source of the produce the United States imports. Fresh produce represents an important portion of cross-border trade through the region, and the latest discovery involved a legitimate commodity used as the manifested cargo.

That volume of perishable, time-sensitive freight is part of what makes produce loads a recurring concealment method for traffickers: commercial trucks carry enormous volumes of legitimate freight across the southern border every day, and CBP regularly reports narcotics seizures hidden inside manifested food shipments. Drug Enforcement Administration threat assessments have consistently identified Mexico as the primary source of methamphetamine available in the United States, with the drug moved north across the southwest border. For transportation professionals, such cases underscore why strong controls surrounding identities, equipment, cargo and shipment details matter whenever freight crosses the border.

Federal investigation underway

Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, opened a criminal investigation following the seizure. CBP did not identify the driver in its announcement, and officials provided no carrier name or ownership information for the tractor-trailer. The release included no criminal charges connected with the shipment.

Authorities have not disclosed where smugglers placed the packages within the celery load, and CBP did not explain whether investigators believe the operator knew about the narcotics. No shipper, receiver or broker appeared in the announcement. Further details could emerge as the federal investigation continues, including whether any charges are filed in connection with the shipment.

FreightWaves reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for additional information about the seizure and the ongoing investigation. The agency had not provided a response before publication, and the article will be updated if CBP provides additional details.