DEA Seizes 2,500 Pounds of Crystal Meth Concealed in Celery Shipment

URLs:

• Jing Tang Li arrest: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/el-monte-man-charged-connection-attempts-ship-more-1000-kilograms-methamphetamine
• Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/meth-los-angeles-el-monte-australia-shipping-drugs-4694ce6083b3a273a58bbbdfc3d7e889
• Bucks County DA's Office: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/da/29567/post/da-california-bucks-county-drug-ring-dismantled-smuggled-millions-meth-cocaine-inside

Article:

DEA agents seized 2,585 pounds of crystal meth, worth $3.2 million, hidden among celery boxes in a truck at the Atlanta State Farmers Market last Thursday. The driver, Jesus Martinez Martinez, was arrested.

"This is a significant and unbelievable amount of drugs to be shipped at one time and to a destination this far from the border," said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. "It also shows the confidence of the cartel behind this."

Murphy noted this was the largest meth seizure by DEA Atlanta, and the third-largest overall in 2023. The tip-off led them to a tractor-trailer crossing the Mexican border. The celery had to be destroyed over potential meth contamination.

Other Recent Busts:

• A California man, Jing Tang Li, was arrested last week for his alleged involvement in attempting to ship over 2,000 pounds of meth to Australia, packed as furniture and textiles.
• Six men, including alleged leader Matthew James Byrne, were charged with operating a "drug empire" that smuggled $5 million worth of meth and cocaine, concealed in Bluetooth karaoke devices, from California to Pennsylvania.