FOREST PARK, Ga. — The Atlanta DEA field office made the largest meth seizure in its history after recovering over 2,000 pounds disguised as produce at a Clayton County grocery store.
On Monday afternoon, federal law enforcement officials held a press conference detailing how it tracked a load of methamphetamines from the Mexican border all the way to Atlanta. The DEA said the drugs were smuggled by a Mexican drug cartel.
Officials said they intercepted a truck containing 2,300 pounds of meth, valued at over $3 million, from a truck going to the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park. The drugs were hidden in a shipment of celery that was heading to several markets and other stores across the metro Atlanta area.
Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the celery that the meth was packed with was destroyed.
"It is the produce terminal for the southeast United States, and if drugs are moving through, there is a possibility for food contamination," Harper said.
The driver of the truck was arrested and charged with drug trafficking.
"We’re sending a message loud and clear to those that want to use agriculture as a means to an end for criminal activity - you will be caught. You will be prosecuted, and you will go to prison," Harper stated.
Officials said they are still trying to track down the cartel the shipment was linked to.