Truck Transporting Marijuana Concealed As Carrot Impounded

A truck transporting false carrot was stopped while crossing the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge along the Texas-Mexico border near the Gulf of Mexico.

Drug smugglers trying to sneak thousands of pounds of weed disguised as carrots into the United States were sniffed out by authorities this weekend though they demonstrated "creativity" in the attempted smuggling, officials said.

The street value of the drugs is estimated at $499,000, said authorities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted 2,493 pounds of “alleged marijuana,” which was found hidden among a commercial shipment of fresh carrots in a tractor-trailer traveling from Mexico. The shipment was discovered during a search at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, located near the U.S. border with Mexico in south eastern Texas—around 250 miles south of San Antonio.

A close-up of the weed hidden in packages made to resemble carrots. The packages were contained in a shipment of actual carrots from Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection                          

“Once again, drug smuggling organizations have demonstrated their creativity in attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Efrain Solis Jr., port director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “Our officers are always ready to meet those challenges and remain vigilant toward any type of illicit activities.”