Methamphetamine-stuffed cabbage: This is how more than a ton of drugs entered the U.S.

An unusual concealment method was exposed when U.S. authorities intercepted a shipment of cabbage carrying more than a ton of methamphetamine. The case, which reveals increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking strategies, culminated in the conviction of a Mexican citizen.

José Ángel Ibarra-Rojas, 36, was sentenced on June 4 of this year to 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The seizure occurred on June 18, 2024, during a traffic stop in Pharr, Texas. Ibarra-Rojas was riding as a passenger in a tractor-trailer carrying a seemingly harmless shipment of cabbage. However, an inspection by authorities revealed 1,154 plastic-wrapped packages hidden inside the vegetables.

Laboratory tests confirmed the shipment contained crystal methamphetamine , weighing approximately 1,356 kilograms (about 3,000 pounds). The estimated street value of the drug exceeded $2.8 million.

During the trial, Ibarra-Rojas admitted that he knew the trailer was transporting narcotics and that the shipment had recently entered the United States. He revealed that he would receive $1,000 to coordinate the shipment to the north of the country and confessed to having participated in similar operations in the past.

Federal Judge Drew B. Tipton handed down the sentence of 132 months in prison. Because he is not a U.S. citizen, Ibarra-Rojas will face deportation proceedings after completing his sentence.

The investigation was coordinated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with support from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell of the Southern District of Texas.