A 44-year-old truck driver is currently in federal custody following an attempt to cross into the United States from Mexico through the Otay Mesa border checkpoint in San Diego.

Allegedly, he was carrying approximately 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a sizable shipment of carrots.

The driver arrived at the checkpoint in a commercial tractor-trailer shortly before noon on March 17.

He presented a valid border crossing card and provided a shipping manifest indicating that he was transporting carrots, as stated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a news release.

However, upon further inspection, authorities discovered suspicious packages concealed beneath the bundles of carrots. A total of 574 packages were found, all testing positive for methamphetamine, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Both the methamphetamine and the truck were seized, and the driver, whose identity was not disclosed, was handed over to the Department of Homeland Security for additional investigation.

Officials noted that this seizure was part of an ongoing border operation named Operation Apollo, which is aimed at intercepting fentanyl and other synthetic drugs being smuggled into the United States.

Written by B.C. Begley