May 20, 2009  Rio Grande City, Texas
CBP officers seized 99 pounds of marijuana hidden inside vehicles tires

On May 20, 2009 CBP officers working at the Rio Grande City International Bridge came in contact with a northbound male traveler, driving a 1998 Ford Explorer pickup truck. While at primary, officers noted discrepancies to the truck's tires. The vehicle and driver were then referred to secondary for an intensive examination. While in secondary, the vehicle was referred for a non-intrusive image scan. X-ray images revealed anomalies within three of the vehicle's four tires. "Dusty", a narcotic detector dog, alerted officers to the presence of narcotic odors coming from the vehicle's tires. While conducting an examination of the vehicle, officers found three of the vehicle's four tires concealing metal containers, all containing compressed blocks of bulk marijuana with a total weight of 99 pounds. The driver identified as Cesar Acosta, a 35 year old U.S. citizen from Mission, Texas was arrested on federal drug charges. After his arrest, Acosta was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents who continued to investigate this failed smuggling attempt. CBP officers seized the marijuana and the Ford Explorer.
Source: US Customs and Border Protection