Los Angeles, CA — Federal agents have uncovered a massive drug smuggling operation at Los Angeles International Airport, seizing nearly 300 pounds of methamphetamine cleverly concealed inside a shipment of solar panels.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the bust Monday, revealing that the highly addictive stimulant was hidden between layers of duct tape and aluminum foil embedded within the panels.
The shipment was reportedly en route to New Zealand and was flagged by officers based on prior intelligence, allowing the agency to intercept the narcotics before they could leave the country.
Photos shared by CBP show officers methodically peeling back the disguised packaging to uncover tightly packed bundles of meth.
“This is what we do every day,” CBP said in a social media post. “These ‘criminal masterminds’ never stood a chance.”
While the agency confirmed the drug seizure, it did not disclose when the operation occurred, where the shipment was located within the airport, or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the smuggling attempt.
The investigation remains ongoing.
