$19M of cocaine found hidden in shipment of Mexican potato chips

May 10 (UPI) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety seized $19 million worth of cocaine found hidden in a shipment of Mexican potato chips.

DPS Special Agents investigated "several indicators of criminal activity" at a Hidalgo County warehouse to discover boxes containing 133 packages of cocaine, weighing 323 pounds at 5:30 p.m. on May 4.

"DPS arrested Jesus Salvador Gonzalez-Mendoza, 25, Hernan Halil Mena-Real, 26, both of Jalisco, Mexico, on federal drug charges. Both suspects were transported and booked into the San Juan Police Department jail," the department said.

A criminal complaint stated that agents said the company "did not appear to be a legitimate business in Texas."

Investigators approached the warehouse and were granted permission to search by Gonzalez-Mendoza and Mena-Real.

"K-9 alerted to pallets located in the warehouse and said pallets were searched by special agents but no contraband was located at that time," the complaint stated.

Investigators left the property and questioned a truck driver seen leaving the warehouse.

"She refused to transport the load because she believed that the target warehouse was not a legitimate company and had the pallets removed from the truck tractor/trailer," agents said in the criminal report.

Investigators then returned to the warehouse and broke down every pallet and box on the property until they discovered the drugs.