Large quantities of methamphetamine valued at approximately $1,800,000 discovered hidden inside dog shampoo bottles at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Rewritten Article
Busting Meth at the Border
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) recently uncovered a whopping 17 pounds of liquid methamphetamine disguised as dog shampoo, with an estimated street value of over $1.8 million. This mammoth stash, intended for Australia, was hidden in a bundle of 12 vibrant, plastic bottles.
On April 1, CBP officers inspected an outbound cargo shipment declared as "Assorted Dog Shampoos." The packages concealed the 12 brightly colored bottles, which contained the substance upon inspection by the Outbound Enforcement Team. When they opened the bottles, the officers found a "crystallized white substance" that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Additional details about the intended destination or the party attempting to send the drugs were withheld.
California: A Meth Hotspot
Methamphetamine smuggling isn't a new trend, as evident in an incident at the U.S.-Mexico border involving a truck driver. In a span of a year, from October 2023 to September 2024, CBP officers seized over 174,000 pounds of meth. Since last October, nearly 64,000 pounds of meth have been intercepted alone.
One notable example of creative smuggling methods is the use of dog shampoo bottles, as seen in the LAX bust. In the past, smugglers have attempted to sneak meth using carrot shipments and even watermelons painted green.
Undercover Watermelons
In a bizarre yet telling occurrence, authorities at the Otay Mesa commercial facility in San Diego County found 1,220 packages of methamphetamine, wrapped in paper and painted green to mimic watermelons.
Andrew H. Douglas, the LAX area port director for Customs and Border Protection, commended the officers for their vigilance in uncovering the meth in the shampoo bottles. "This significant seizure illustrates our officers' vigilance, keen focus, and commitment in disrupting transnational drug trafficking," he stated.
Additional Reads
- Beetles on the Loose: Live beetles discovered hidden inside Japanese snacks at LAX, officials say[6]
- Meth-soaked Clothing: A man tried to fly from LAX with 71 pounds of meth-soaked clothing, including a cow onesie, officials say[7]
- Meth-drenched Clothes: LAX security opened a student's suitcase, finding her clothes soaked in meth, officials say[8]
Enrichment Insights
Here are some recent methods smugglers have employed to transport meth:
- Postal and Parcel Services: Crystal meth is often hidden in standard mail parcels for transportation, especially in operations based in Los Angeles[2].
- Large-Scale Vehicle Concealment: Meth has been found hidden in tractor-trailers at border crossings[3] and in sedans with hidden compartments[5].
- Collaborative Trafficking Networks: Organized networks move meth across multiple states, often using local distributors to expand distribution[4].
- Cross-Border Techniques: Undocumented couriers and the exploitation of commercial cargo have been used to smuggle meth across borders[5].
This diversity in smuggling methods underscores the adaptability and evolution of drug trafficking strategies.
- The massive stash of methamphetamine discovered at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California, disguised as dog shampoo, highlights the adaptability of drug trafficking strategies.
- The outbound cargo shipment, containing 12 brightly colored bottles of 'assorted dog shampoos' at LAX, was a clever cover for a large quantity of methamphetamine.
- California, with its busy ports and thriving culture, has been a hotspot for methamphetamine smuggling, as evident in the numerous seizures by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.
- In a creative twist, smugglers have attempted to use carrot shipments and even watermelons painted green as disguises for methamphetamine, as seen in a bizarre incident at the Otay Mesa commercial facility in San Diego County.
- The General News and Crime & Justice categories are filled with stories of sneaky attempts to transport methamphetamine through LAX, such as a man trying to fly with 71 pounds of meth-soaked clothing.
