Well, it seems the green pepper just became the most expensive vegetable on the market. Border Patrol officers in Texas uncovered over $31 million worth of methamphetamine stashed inside a shipment of serrano peppers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Using x-ray imaging, agents found nearly a ton of meth—2,155 pounds, to be precise—disguised in over 1,800 bundles packed among the spicy cargo. This attempt to smuggle massive quantities of drugs into the country is just one more headline in the relentless flow of criminal activity at our southern border.
New Administration Already Paying Dividends…
❌ Border Patrol seizes more than $31M of meth hidden in shipment of peppers at Texas border pic.twitter.com/hQLXApqYRb
— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) November 14, 2024
The discovery at the Pharr International Bridge port comes as the Biden administration’s lax border policies are about to come to an abrupt end, with President-elect Trump preparing to take office once again. Trump has vowed to restore strong border enforcement and conduct one of the largest deportation operations in American history.
And the shift in leadership isn’t lost on migrants, who are now racing toward the U.S. in caravans, hoping to enter before Trump’s team can reinstate some sanity at the border. Some migrants are even deciding to turn back, fearing the prospect of Trump’s strict policies on the horizon.
Yet despite the concerns, reports indicate that a significant number of migrants will still try to make it across, calculating that once they’re in, they might stay off the radar long enough to avoid deportation. According to the Heritage Foundation’s Lora Ries, many migrants are gambling on the chance that they won’t be detected or removed for years. But with shelters across Mexico already filled to capacity, the numbers arriving at the border won’t be small. And if they can’t enter legally, experts like Auden Cabello warn, many are willing to take the illegal route instead.
While Homeland Security launches its investigation into the pepper-packed meth load, we’re left wondering just how many more shipments like this have slipped through under the current administration. The drugs seized on Sunday represent only a small fraction of what likely makes it past inspection and onto American streets, fueling the addiction crisis ravaging communities across the country. And while border officials continue doing everything they can, it’s clear they’re fighting a battle that’s only going to intensify.
Trump’s campaign promises to “seal up those borders” are taking on renewed significance as migrants and smugglers scramble to beat the clock. The rush to get into the U.S. is reaching a fever pitch, with many migrants choosing to take their chances now, fearing the incoming administration will put an end to the lax policies that have emboldened smugglers and fueled chaos at the border.
Now THIS is a Border Czar.
Congratulations @RealTomHoman. pic.twitter.com/9uCg5P1Ovd
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) November 11, 2024
It’s a bitter irony: while some in the Biden administration see open borders as a compassionate policy, it’s encouraging cartels to use vulnerable people as cover for their deadly cargo. With the upcoming transition, border security might finally get the attention it desperately needs, but as of now, it’s clear we’ve got plenty still crossing the line.
