Smugglers Stash 1 Ton of Pot in Carrot-Like Packages, Border Patrol Says

The weed has "an estimated street value" of nearly $500,000, officials said.

January 14, 2016, 4:47 PM

— -- Maybe they were going to make a pot pie.

Border patrol officers in southern Texas recently seized over a ton of marijuana that smugglers stuffed inside more than 2,800 packages that look like carrots, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The packages carry "an estimated street value" of nearly $500,000 and were hidden among a shipment of real produce from Mexico, the CBP said in a news release on Wednesday.

"Once again, drug smuggling organizations have demonstrated their creativity in attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics across the U.S./Mexico border," said Efrain Solis Jr., director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, according to the CBP.

"Our officers are always ready to meet those challenges and remain vigilant towards any type of illicit activities,” Solis Jr. added.

PHOTO: Carrot-shaped packages filled with pot were found among a load of real produce in south Texas.
Carrot-shaped packages filled with pot were found among a load of real produce in south Texas.

The case is currently under investigation by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the CPB said.