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| Packages of marijuana found among avocados |
A truck driver from Mexico attempted to smuggle more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas discovered 1,055 pounds of marijuana within a commercial trailer.
“Our officers’ experience combined with the use of available tools continues to keep dangerous drugs from entering our country,” said Acting Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, who oversees operations at the Hidalgo, Pharr, and Anzalduas Port of Entries.
The seizure occurred on Saturday when CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a white 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer, hauling a commercial shipment of avocados.
After the truck was referred for a secondary inspection, CBP officers utilized a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system to locate the narcotics.
CBP officers extracted 440 packages of alleged marijuana within the trailer.
CBP OFO seized the drugs, which were valued at approximately $210,980.
The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.
