ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just announced that the nation’s third-largest methamphetamine bust this year unfolded in a metro Atlanta farmers market.

The DEA said a drug seizure of this magnitude is unusual for metro Atlanta, and usually only happens at the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Monday, the DEA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture sent a stern message to drug traffickers eyeing Georgia’s agriculture industry as a possible mechanism for illegal drug distribution.

“You will be prosecuted, and you will go to prison. We’re going to work every single day to make sure that that’s the case,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said.

DEA officials told Atlanta News First that they received a tip about a massive load of methamphetamine making its way across the U.S.-Mexico border heading to the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, Clayton County.

The multi-agency task force traced the tip to a tractor trailer and discovered more than 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine packed in with celery produce, disguised in green bags to hide the contraband.

“This is the largest meth seizure we’ve ever had here in DEA Atlanta, and this is the third-largest seizure, total, DEA-wide of methamphetamine this year,” said Robert Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Division.

1 ton of meth, hidden in truckload of celery, seized from metro Atlanta farmers market, DEA says

Task force agents said it’s not the first time this has happened at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.

“It is the produce terminal for the southeastern United States, and if drugs are moving through there, there is a possibility for food contamination, and we know that, so it’s important that we keep our consumers safe,” Harper said.

Agents said they’ve arrested a suspect, identified as Jesus Martinez, for allegedly trafficking the drugs.

Many local vendors at the Atlanta State Farmers Market were too afraid to go on camera, but they told us off-camera that this is disappointing for small vendors who come here to work hard and make a living.

They said it’s hard enough to attract business as it is, and this doesn’t make it any easier.​

Paying customers who we spoke to were outraged.

“Really! I have grandchildren and children, and at a farmers market? No dear!” the customer said.

The DEA said this is proof the cartels have a well-established foothold in Georgia. They’re working to identify which cartel is responsible.

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