ATLANTA (TCN) — Federal officials made one of the largest drug busts in their history last week after they seized over 2,500 pounds — more than 1 ton — of crystal meth shipped from Mexico.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA Atlanta Division made the stop Aug. 8 during an operation at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Clayton County. The 2,585 pounds of meth were “concealed among boxes of celery in the cargo area of the truck.”
The value of the drugs totaled $3.2 million. It was the biggest drug seizure in history for the Atlanta Division.
Law enforcement officers arrested the truck’s driver, Jesus Martinez Martinez. The drugs had been transported across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division Robert Murphy said, “This is a significant and unbelievable amount of drugs to be shipped at one time and to a destination this far from the border. It also shows the confidence of the cartel behind this.”
WAGA-TV reports Murphy confirmed officials disposed of the celery.
He said, “That didn’t make it to the store.”
Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper explained that the farmers market is “the produce terminal for the United States and if drugs are moving through there, there is a possibility of contamination, and we know that, so it’s important we keep our consumers safe.”