Published: 02.13.2007

SUV's tires conceal 108 packages of marijuana
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 269 pounds of marijuana Monday at the Douglas port-of-entry and arrested two people from Mexico in connection with the seizures.

About 2 p.m., officers became suspicious of a 55-year-old woman driving a 1993 Ford Explorer after noticing abnormalities in the vehicle’s spare tire, according to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. After a more thorough inspection a drug-sniffing dog pointed officers to 108 packages of marijuana hidden inside the vehicle’s tires.

The woman, a Mexican citizen from Agua Prieta, was arrested.

Officers seized the vehicle and 144 pounds of marijuana, according to the release.

A few hours later, officers screening people coming into the United States grew suspicious of a 19-year-old man driving a 1997 Ford Expedition after noticing problems with the gas tank.

A drug dog again brought the officers’ attention to the gas tank. They removed it and found several metal boxes filled with marijuana, according to the release.

The driver, a Mexican citizen from Agua Prieta, was arrested. Officers seized the vehicle and 125 pounds of marijuana.

Since Oct. 1, officers at the Douglas port-of-entry have stopped 78 attempts to smuggle marijuana into the United States and have seized nearly 8,200 pounds of the drug, according to the press release.

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