Operation at the US-Mexico border that left no scene behind: More than 900 kilograms of drugs were hidden inside cabbages.

In a joint drug operation held on the U.S.-Mexico border, an unconventional method used by cartels in drug smuggling was uncovered. Teams inspecting a cabbage‑laden shipment sent from Mexico to the U.S. determined that the cabbages had been hollowed out and filled with methamphetamine.

Drug Found Inside Cabbages

In an operation coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Field Office and the McAllen office in the Rio Grande Valley, a cabbage‑laden shipment entering the U.S. from Mexico was intercepted.

In the operation involving federal border‑security teams and Texas law‑enforcement forces, the suspect vegetable crates were searched in detail. While officers examined the cabbages one by one, they found that some had been hollowed out and drug packages had been placed inside.

More than 907 kilograms of methamphetamine seized

Searches uncovered more than 2,000 pounds (approximately 907 kilograms) of methamphetamine hidden inside the cabbages and at the shipment site.

In operation footage shared by the DEA, it was seen that the seized drug packages were loaded into a large number of hand trucks. The amount of drugs revealed the magnitude of the operation.

The DEA stated that the operation was carried out in cooperation with the Special Task Force within the Ministry of Interior and various law‑enforcement units, conveying that joint efforts were yielding results in the fight against drug trafficking.

Cartels' New Smuggling Method

Methamphetamine, which can cause serious addiction and health problems in the United States, is among the main drugs smuggled into the country through illicit means. While it is known that Mexico‑based drug cartels employ various concealment techniques in shipments to the U.S. market, placing drugs inside cabbage leaves became one of the operation's most striking details.

During the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who kept the fight against drug cartels among its priorities, border security and operations targeting illegal drug trafficking were also intensified.