ATLANTA (TND) — A record-breaking seizure of nearly 3,000 pounds ofcrystal methamphetamine was made.
Agents with the U.S. Drug and Enforcement Association seized 2,585 pounds of the illegal drug on Aug. 8.
More than a ton of meth valued at $3.2 million was discovered at a farmer’s market in Atlanta, Georgia.
Federal officials said Jesus Martinez, a driver of a truck, was arrested in connection to the alleged drug smuggling case.
The meth was found hidden inside boxes of celery.
“This was contained in a cover load of celery,” said DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Robert Murphy. “It was hiding in the celery. Obviously, we threw away the celery. That didn’t make it to the store.”
Georgia Department of Agriculture posted on social media that “criminal activity in our Ag industry will not be tolerated” following the bust.
Martinez was a member of a Mexican cartel, according to DEA Atlanta.
Thecrystal methamphetamine made its way into the U.S. at the southern border.
The origin of the record-seizure is unknown at this time.
This is a significant and unbelievable amount of drugs to be shipped at one time and to a destination this far from the border,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “It also shows the confidence of the cartel behind this.
It’s the largest-ever seizure of meth made by the DEA in Atlanta and the third largest nationwide in 2024.
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