More than 2,300 pounds of meth was hidden in celery at a farmers' market outside Atlanta , Georgia, according to officials of the US Drug Enforcement Administration .
The DEA deemed the bust one of the largest seizures of its kind. Agents intercepted the illicit delivery to the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, agents said during a news conference. Special Agent in Charge Robert Murphy said officials were tipped off about a semitrailer on its way across the Mexican border .
The agency tracked the drugs to the farmers' market and subsequently raided the trucks where the drugs were found concealed in celery. "This was contained in a cover load of celery," Murphy said.
"It was hiding in the celery. Obviously, we threw away the celery. That didn't make it to the store."
A Mexican citizen was arrested in connection to the bust, the Atlanta TV station reported. Authorities said using produce to hide drugs has become the go-to plan for smugglers.
Meth is a widely known, ultra-addictive stimulant, according to the agency. In most cases, it's manufactured and distributed in the US by drug cartels who are based in Mexico. Meth causes physical and dental harm to a user's body and overdoses can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ problems caused by overheating.
Drug traffickers have used an array of vegetables to conceal large shipments of meth . Earlier this year, K-9 officers used dogs to sniff out almost 6 tons of meth that was mixed in with a squash shipment in California . US Customs and Border Protection agents uncovered over 3,000 pounds meth and cocaine concealed in bins of jalapeno paste being hauled over the border.
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Traffickers have also tried to hide drugs in shipments of green beans, sugar and flour bags as well as in candy boxes. The last year saw numerous instances of cocaine being found hidden inside shipments of bananas as well. The latter was found by customs agents who seized about 205 pounds of cocaine at the port in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.
The vessel came from Ecuador to Thessaloniki carrying shipments of fruit that had several drug packages stashed inside the container's cooling systems. An x-ray revealed about 80 bags of cocaine and the drugs were seized.
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