Greater than 2,300lb of methamphetamine was found hidden in a load of celery at a farmers’ market in Atlanta, authorities stated.
The haul, which the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stated was one of many largest of its variety, was seized on the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park.
The DEA had “developed data” a few truck bringing the methamphetamine to the market, Robert Murphy, the DEA’s Atlanta particular agent in cost, stated at a information convention on Monday.
“This was contained inside a canopy load of celery. That was what was hiding it,” Murphy stated.
“Clearly, we threw away the celery.”
Utilizing produce to hide medicine has turn into a frequent tactic of smugglers, authorities stated. In Might six tons of methamphetamine was discovered hidden in a cargo of inexperienced squash in California, whereas in March almost two tons of cocaine was hidden amongst avocados in Colombia. It’s unclear what occurred to the squash and avocados.
A Mexican citizen, Jesus Martinez Martinez, was arrested, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
In response to its web site, the Atlanta State Farmers Market is “a serious advertising and marketing hub and distribution level for contemporary produce within the south-east and all through the nation”. The market has a 4.5-star ranking on Journey Advisor, with one reviewer praising its “varied collection of merchandise”.
“[The market] is the produce terminal for america and if medicine are transferring by means of there, there’s a risk of contamination, and we all know that, so it’s vital we maintain our shoppers secure,” Tyler Harper, the agriculture commissioner of Georgia, informed Fox 5.
“We’re sending this message loud and clear to those that wish to use agriculture as a way to an finish, as a canopy for felony exercise: you’ll be caught, you’ll be prosecuted, and you’ll go to jail.”
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