Authorities have recently uncovered an astonishing find near the Texas-Mexico border – a hidden compartment in a truck containing methamphetamine with an estimated value of $5 million.
During a traffic stop in Webb County, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers seized over 175 pounds of the drug from a Dodge Ram pickup on IH-35.
According to DPS, the narcotics are believed to have a street value of $5,712,000.
A Mexican citizen has been taken into custody and is facing charges for felony possession of a controlled substance. The exact date of the seizure this week has not been disclosed.
Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for DPS, recently revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that during a vehicle search, a DPS trooper made a startling discovery. Hidden in a false compartment in the truck’s bed were 57 bundles of methamphetamine, each carefully wrapped in cellophane.
In a recent post on Twitter, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas shared the news of a significant drug seizure. He stated that DPS troopers in Webb County successfully confiscated drugs worth an estimated $5.7 MILLION during a routine traffic stop. The troopers discovered a hidden compartment in the truck’s bed, which contained approximately 175 pounds of methamphetamine. Governor Abbott emphasized that operations like Lone Star are crucial in preventing drug smugglers from causing harm to the residents of Texas.
As part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott Operation Lone Star initiative, which was launched in 2021 to combat illegal immigration, DPS troopers have been stationed along the border to tackle smuggling operations.
Texas has some of the strictest penalties in the United States for possessing methamphetamine. The severity of the sentences can vary greatly depending on the quantity of the drug involved.
Possessing methamphetamine is considered a felony offense in the state, which implies that even possessing small quantities can result in substantial prison sentences and substantial fines.
If someone is found with less than one gram of methamphetamine, they may be sentenced to up to 2 years in prison and fined up to $10,000. However, if the amount exceeds 400 grams, the penalties become even more severe. In such cases, individuals can face a prison term ranging from 10 to 99 years, along with a maximum fine of $100,000.
In recent months, the southern border has witnessed a series of highly publicized drug busts involving methamphetamine.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made a significant seizure of methamphetamine recently. They discovered over $17 million worth of the drug concealed within a shipment of coconuts.
On September 28, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge made a significant discovery. They uncovered a staggering 1,950 pounds of what they believed to be methamphetamine. This illicit drug was cleverly concealed in a tractor-trailer, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the illegal drug trade.
CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility made a significant seizure of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of watermelons, with an estimated value of over $5 million.
The smugglers cleverly concealed a staggering 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine by expertly wrapping the packages in vibrant green plastic with stripes, giving them the appearance of miniature watermelons.
A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) revealed that approximately 2.5 million individuals aged 12 and above have reported methamphetamine use in the United States.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election, border security and immigration remain key concerns.
A sizable majority of Americans—more specifically, 68 percent—support the federal government taking a stricter stance on immigration, according to a recent survey by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on behalf of Newsweek.