CALEXICO, Calif. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 754 pounds of marijuana they said was hidden inside a load of concrete products.


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It happened Monday night at the Calexico east port of entry.

According to officials, the driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer was referred to the cargo dock for inspection as it entered the port from Mexico at about 7 p.m. after an X-ray examination raised the officers’ suspicions. A narcotics dog alerted officers to the truck's trailer.

Officials said they unloaded the concrete items, which included artistic columns, drinking fountains and plant pots. Inside, Customs and Border Protection officers said they found 69 wrapped bundles of marijuana, some of which were hidden inside the stone items.

The 24-year-old truck driver, a resident of Mexicali, was detained and the drugs were seized.
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