September 15, 2007    Texas
U.S. Customs/Border Patrol agents find more than 6 thousand pounds of marijuana hidden in bales of hay

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents with the Hebbronville, Texas station seized more than three tons of marijuana being smuggled aboard a tractor-trailer at a checkpoint on Farm Road 1017 this weekend.

A Georgia man driving a tractor-trailer loaded with hay bales was stopped at the checkpoint for a routine immigration inspection Saturday. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the enclosed trailer prompting agents to search the load of hay being transported. Inside, agents found 381 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 6,477 pounds hidden among the hay. The marijuana is valued at $5,182,000. The drugs, the truck and the driver were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

"This illustrates the great training and dedication to duty our agents bring to the job", said national Deputy Chief Ron Colburn. "One of our strategic objectives is making America and her border environment a better, safer place to live. That commitment is shown in keeping this load of drugs off our streets and keeping it out of our communities."

Laredo Sector agents have seized 134,455 pounds of marijuana during this fiscal year, which is a 22 percent increase over marijuana seizures recorded during the same period last fiscal year. Nationally, U.S. Border Patrol agents have seized more than 1.7 million pounds of marijuana worth nearly $1.4 billion from Oct. 1, 2006 through Aug 31.

To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994.

Source: US Customs/Border Patrol