The DEA's Atlanta Division conducted a major drug bust at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, Clayton County, seizing over one ton of methamphetamine hidden in a truckload of celery, Fox 5Atlanta reported. Described by DEA officials as a record-breaking operation, the interception was part of an extensive multi-agency crackdown on drug trafficking in the metro Atlanta area.

According to the FOX5 Atlanta report, Robert Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Atlanta Division, said, "This is the largest meth seizure at DEA Atlanta and third-largest total meth seizure DEA wide." The methamphetamine's worth was placed at $3 million wholesale. However, the street value could be much higher, officials say, as most of these type of busts typically occur at a border or port of entry, and the DEA's Atlanta Division is several states away from the border.

The operation also led to the arrest of Jesus Martinez Martinez, identified as a Mexican citizen allegedly responsible for transporting the drugs across the border. Murphy told Atlanta News First that the intent is not only to disrupt the drug pipeline but also to "take down the whole cartel that’s responsible for this." With the seizure representing what Murphy calls a "confidence load."

Georgia's agriculture sector was highlighted by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper as a potential vector for crime, stating at a press conference, "Crime is like water, and just like water, always looks for the easiest path to go to, to find its way through." As reported by Atlanta News First, Harper's comments draw attention to the necessity of vigilance within the agriculture industry to prevent such exploitation. After the bust, the contaminated celery was destroyed to maintain consumer safety, reinforcing the department's commitment to preventing the drug trade from breaching the state's food supply chain.