Border agents at the Sumas crossing seized $6 million worth of marijuana Tuesday stowed in a cattle truck they claim was carrying BC bud below the beef.


A big pile of potP-I reporter Jon Naito has the story here.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents apparently found 1,746 pounds of pot using an X-ray machine. But, according to an agency statement, agents still had to deal with the unpleasant task of removing the weed.

Per the statement:

Officers scraped off the natural byproduct of cows and endured the associated odors to unbolt false panels that concealed hundreds of plastic bags of marijuana beneath.

Describing the olfactory sensation, area director Pat Hinchey described the odor as "the sweet smell of success."

The truck driver would likely take a different view, as the 39-year-old British Columbia resident was arrested and could face federal charges in the incident.

No word was given on whether the beef cattle got into bud.

In other pot news, the proprietor of an Auburn garden shop was convicted Wednesday by a federal jury.

Thiet Van Tran, 41, could face a life sentence after being convicted in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His crime, prosecutors alleged, was helping others grow pot by providing them equipment, advice and supplies.

Tran was one of 13 people charged following an April 2008 anti-drug push – "Operation Green Reaper" – conducted by 12 Puget Sound-area agencies, including the Seattle Police Department.

He's scheduled to be sentenced May 15.
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