Texas Border Patrol Seize Cheese Wheels Filled With 18 Pounds Of Cocaine

Customs officials at the Presidio Port of Entry in Texas made a perplexing discovery while inspecting a pickup truck transporting wheels of cheese from Mexico.

What Was Found?

Suspicious Cheese

The officials suspected something when they noticed certain irregularities on an X-ray scan of the cheese. Their suspicions were confirmed when a closer inspection revealed a staggering 17.8 pounds of cocaine hidden inside the seemingly innocent wheels. The officials seized the drugs and impounded the truck, while the 22-year-old driver, who had legally declared the cheese, will now face charges for his failed smuggling attempt.

Smuggling Attempts

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lengths that smugglers will go to in their desperate attempts to bring drugs into the US. It seems that no everyday object is safe from their insidious plots. From car batteries and gas tanks to drones and more, Customs and Border Protection has encountered a range of bizarre methods employed by these criminals.

In El Paso, officers discovered 146 pounds of cocaine cleverly concealed within an ice cream maker just last month. Similarly, officials at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport stumbled upon $450,000 worth of cocaine tucked away inside the wheels of a woman's wheelchair back in November.

Drug Smuggling Statistics

Alarming statistics reveal an increase in drug seizures. Customs and Border Protection reported a 7% rise in combined seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana from May to June alone. As a result, the agency is intensifying its efforts to disrupt the flow of drugs into the country. This includes dedicating additional resources to points of entry, which are notorious hotspots for drug smuggling through vehicles.

Since the launch of a new operation in June, officials have made remarkable progress in combating drug trafficking. They have successfully seized over 1,500 pounds of fentanyl and a staggering 23,000 pounds of various narcotics like cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. The agency's commitment to thwarting the movement of drugs into the US remains steadfast, and its relentless efforts continue to safeguard our communities.