Sault Ste Marie, Mich. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations today announced the seizure of approximately 1.3 pounds of marijuana and related drug paraphernalia at the International Bridge in Sault Sainte Marie. The seizure resulted in the arrest of a Canadian citizen.
On February 26, CBP officers encountered Joseph Hennigar, a 43-year-old Canadian citizen from Mission, British Columbia, as he applied for admission into the United States at the International Bridge border crossing in Sault Ste Marie, Mich. Mr. Hennigar was randomly selected for a CBP secondary inspection.
During the course of the secondary inspection, CBP officers questioned Mr. Hennigar regarding the goods he was bringing into the United States, to which he advised that he may have a couple of marijuana cigarettes. Further questioning brought Mr. Hennigar to reveal that he had one pound of marijuana concealed in the back of his pickup truck. Inspection of his belongings yielded additional marijuana, an electronic scale, and a marijuana grinder.
"Solid interviewing techniques by our officers resulted in this individual telling us what we needed to know to keep these drugs off of our streets," said Devin Chamberlain, Sault Sainte Marie port director.
The marijuana seized by CBP has a street value of approximately $2,800. Mr. Hennigar was arrested and turned over to the Sault Ste Marie, Mich. Police Department for further investigation and prosecution.
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.