Customs and Border Protection Agents find meth stashed in peanut shells

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — Drug smugglers have many nutty methods to get meth into America.

One was recently cracked open in Tennessee.

U.S Customs and Border Protection officers at a facility in Memphis were looking at some x-rays they had taken when they noticed something looked a little different in a shipment of produce.

The shipment manifest read:

“REGIONAL BREAD ROASTED PEANUTS REGIONAL DUST SWEET MADE OF CORN.”

But when the agents cracked open a few shells they discovered a white powdery substance, which tuned out to be methamphetamine.

“My experienced officers long ago lost all surprise at the smuggling methods they encounter every shift,” said Area Port Director Michael Neipert. “Narcotics in fruit, nuts, baked goods, shoes, toys and all kinds of other items disguised as gifts or other legitimate shipments fly through the express consignment world. These days you can get a gram of methamphetamine at half the price of what cocaine costs, and at twice the potency. I’m proud we were able to keep this shipment from getting to its destination.”

The total weight of the meth found in the shells was 489 grams, or about 2,445 doses.