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  4. CBP Officers Uncover More Than 7,300 Pounds of Marijuana in Shipment of Green Onions

CBP Officers Uncover More Than 7,300 Pounds of Marijuana in Shipment of Green Onions

Release Date
Tue, 11/04/2014

CALEXICO, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East commercial facility Saturday foiled an attempt to smuggle 7,338 pounds of marijuana concealed in a shipment of green onions.

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on November 1, when CBP officers encountered a Kenworth tractor-trailer that entered the cargo facility carrying a manifested shipment of green onions.  Officers referred the commercial truck to the port’s inspectional dock for a more in-depth examination.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Calexico east commercial facility seized 491 packages containing 7,338 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of green onions.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Calexico east commercial facility seized 491 packages containing 7,338 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of green onions.

During a dockside inspection of the conveyance, which included utilization of the port’s imaging system and an alert from a CBP human-narcotics detector dog, officers discovered 491 wrapped bundles concealed within the pallets of produce loaded in the trailer.

The bundles field-tested positive as marijuana, with an estimated street value of $3.28 million.

The driver, a 44-year-old male Mexican citizen and resident of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, 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