Saturday, 16 February 2008
3 Tons of Marijuana Concealed Within Load of Pineapples in Texas

Falfurrias, Texas - February 14, 2008. Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents seized over four million dollars in marijuana at the Falfurrias checkpoint. The driver was arrested.

The seizure occurred Tuesday, when Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias Border Patrol Traffic Checkpoint located on U.S. Highway 281, questioned the driver of a tractor-trailer as to his citizenship. While questioning the driver,

a Border Patrol canine performing a free air sniff of the exterior area of the trailer, alerted to the presence of concealed humans or drugs. The driver was directed to the secondary inspection area where a search of the trailer led to the discovery of 132 bundles marijuana hidden within a load of pineapples. The total weight of the marijuana was 5,701 pounds with an estimated value of $4,560,800. The driver, a thirty-three year old U.S. citizen from El Paso, Texas was arrested.



The driver, marijuana, and tractor-trailer were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending further investigation.

To report suspicious activity, contact the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol sectors’ toll free telephone number at 1-800-863-9382.

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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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