Nogales, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a drug smuggling attempt when they seized nearly 408 pounds of marijuana concealed in the water tank of a vehicle.
On May 11 at about 11 p.m., CBP officers at the Nogales port of entry were screening travelers when they came in contact with a 24-year-old man driving a 2004 Chevrolet cargo van. The man was identified as a United States citizen and resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The CBP officers selected the vehicle for inspection. With the assistance of a special trained K-9 team from the U.S. Border Patrol, CBP officers searched the vehicle and discovered that a water tank simulating a carpet cleaning system had packages of marijuana concealed inside. Almost 408 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $346,000 were removed from the water tank.
CBP officers seized the vehicle and marijuana. The man was turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation and prosecution.