Pumpkins hiding a stash of meth-filled condoms seized at Texas border, feds say

Typically when you open up a real pumpkin, you’ll find seeds and that sticky, gooey pulp.

If you’ve ever carved a pumpkin or hollowed one out for its seeds, you’re likely familiar with those stringy, orange insides that coat your arms as you empty the festive squash.

But recently, someone hollowed out four pumpkins as part of a sneaky scheme, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A driver and a passenger were in a 2012 Ford Escape when they arrived at the Eagle Pass Camino Real International Bridge from Mexico on Tuesday, Oct. 11, according to a news release. A border patrol officer sent the vehicle to a secondary inspection point.

During the examination, authorities said they “encountered Halloween decorations that were not what they seemed.”

Because stuffed inside four pumpkins were 136 condoms, officials said.

And inside those 136 condoms? Forty-four pounds of liquid methamphetamine.

A photo of one of the orange pumpkins shows condoms hidden inside the mostly carved out squash. Only a little bit of pumpkin pulp can be seen.

“Our frontline CBP officers have seen just about everything and this Tuesday was no exception as they encountered liquid methamphetamine hidden within pumpkins,” Acting Port Director Elizabeth Garduno said in a statement. “They utilized their training, experience, interviewing skills and uncovered a rather novel narcotics smuggling method in the process.”

Authorities said the liquid methamphetamine is worth $402,196.

The drugs and the vehicle were seized, officials said. The driver and passenger were taken into custody and transferred to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office.

An investigation is ongoing.

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