A shipment of berries rolling through McAllen on Tuesday was hauling a lot more than fresh produce, according to federal agents, who say they seized more than 1,600 pounds of crystal meth hidden inside the load. Authorities listed DEA McAllen, FBI San Antonio, HSI San Antonio and the Texas Department of Public Safety's South region among the partners on the operation.
Meth & Berries!! #DEA McAllen, @FBISanAntonio, @HSI_SanAntonio, and @TxDPSSouth seized over 1600 POUNDS of crystal #meth concealed in a berry shipment as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). #safercommunities #HSTF-San Antonio @DEAHQ @TheJusticeDept https://x.com/i/status/2026335573749727371
— DEAHouston (@DEAHouston) February 24, 2026
What law enforcement says
In a brief post headlined "Meth & Berries!!," DEAHouston said the massive haul was part of a Homeland Security Task Force case that brought multiple federal and state agencies to the table. The social post highlighted the size of the seizure but stayed light on specifics, offering no information on suspects, arrests or charges.
Homeland Security Task Force role
As outlined by the DEA, Homeland Security Task Forces, or HSTFs, pull together federal, state and local partners to go after transnational trafficking networks. The agency says recent HSTF work in South Texas has led to arrests and multi-hundred-kilogram drug seizures, and officials describe the initiative as a sustained enforcement push along major entry corridors.
Produce concealment isn't new
The McAllen-Pharr corridor has turned up big drug loads in boxes of produce more than once. Local reporting documented a March 2025 case where roughly 1,500 pounds of meth were discovered inside pallets of blueberries, according to KRGV, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has recorded other multi-hundred-pound seizures hidden in peppers and roses at the Pharr International Bridge.
Why this matters locally
Law-enforcement officials say seizures of this size take a significant quantity of meth off the streets and can disrupt distribution chains tied to violence and addiction. The region has seen several large interdictions recently, including a separate multi-hundred-pound cocaine haul near McAllen in late January that highlighted the corridor's role in bulk trafficking, according to a massive McAllen bust.
Officials have not yet released details on arrests, charges or where the berry shipment was headed. The social post listed only the agencies involved and the size of the seizure. Investigators with the DEA and partner agencies say the case is still active, and more information could surface as the work continues.
