TSA Finds Meth Stuffed Inside Breakfast Burrito at Houston Airport

Authorities in Houston arrested a man at William P. Hobby Airport after crystal meth was found in his breakfast burrito.

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer saw what appeared to be a lump inside the unidentified man's breakfast burrito while going through a routine X-ray screening of his carry-on luggage on April 2, the agency said in a statement Friday. The officer then requested the item undergo additional inspection.

According to the statement, the man insisted it was "just a breakfast burrito" but the inspecting transportation security officer (TSO) noticed something "dark and unusual in the middle of the burrito." A second X-ray scan conducted by another TSO revealed what the agency described to be "black tape and dark wrapping around a large organic mass" inside the food item.

Members of the Houston Police Department were notified, and upon inspection, determined that the lump was crystal meth. Police confiscated the drug and arrested the man.

No additional information regarding the man was disclosed.

Hector Vela, TRA federal security director at Hobby Airport, praised the work of the officers, saying, "I commend the actions of our TSOs and supervisory TSO who noticed something wasn’t quite right and for acting on their instincts. Their attention to detail and follow-up response led to the discovery of crystal meth, a dangerous and illegal substance."

Vela pointed out, "Airport security checkpoints in Houston and across Texas are seeing significant increases in the number of departing travelers. Despite these increases, TSA continues to [be] focused on its core security mission to keep travelers safe and secure."

The TSA pointed out in the statement, "Although TSO’s don’t actively screen for illicit drugs at airport security checkpoints, they are required to contact airport law enforcement when they come across suspected drugs in carry-on luggage or on a passenger."

The American-Mexican food item was also used in a recent drug smuggling effort intercepted by border officials late last month.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog alerted authorities to $60,000 worth of fentanyl pills hidden inside breakfast burritos at the Yuma Sector immigration checkpoint in Arizona, KABC-TV reported. The opioids, weighing 5 pounds, were being transported by an unnamed 37-year-old man in an SUV. Authorities reportedly arrested the man and seized the drugs.