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  4. CBP Officers Stop Attempt to Smuggle 600 Pounds of Marijuana in Commercial Shipment of Alfalfa

CBP Officers Stop Attempt to Smuggle 600 Pounds of Marijuana in Commercial Shipment of Alfalfa

Release Date
Thu, 10/23/2014

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East commercial facility Wednesday halted an attempt to smuggle 600 pounds of marijuana within a shipment of alfalfa.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry found 600 pounds of marijuana hidden in this alfalfa shipment.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry found 600 pounds of marijuana hidden in this alfalfa shipment.

The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on October 22, when CBP officers encountered a Peterbilt tractor-trailer that entered the cargo facility carrying a manifested shipment of alfalfa.  Officers referred the commercial truck to the port’s inspectional dock for a more in-depth examination.

During a dockside inspection of the conveyance, and following an alert from a CBP human-narcotics detector dog, officers discovered 50 wrapped bundles concealed within the bales of alfalfa loaded on the trailer.

50 bundles containing 600 pounds of marijuana, found hidden in an alfalfa shipment by CBP officers at the Calexico East port of entry.

Fifty bundles containing 600 pounds of marijuana, found hidden in an alfalfa shipment by CBP officers at the Calexico East port of entry.

The bundles field-tested positive as marijuana, valued at approximately $270,000.

The driver, a 40-year-old male Mexican citizen and resident of Mexicali, Baja California, was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing.

CBP seized the marijuana, the truck and trailer.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021