A cross-border truck driver was arrested after trying to transport $20 million in drugs across the border from Canada into the U.S.
On Monday, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced in a Tweet, “RECORD NORTHERN BORDER SEIZURE: CBP officers at the Peace Bridge Cargo Facility in Buffalo discovered more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana in a tractor trailer.”
According to Border Patrol, it’s the largest drug bust on the northern border in 5 years.
RECORD NORTHERN BORDER SEIZURE: CBP officers at the Peace Bridge Cargo Facility in Buffalo discovered more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana in a tractor trailer. Learn more about this record seizure via @CBPBuffalo: https://t.co/dLCfKz58M1 pic.twitter.com/IQwC3vwr1U
— CBP (@CBP) June 30, 2020
A press release from CBP said that officers at the Peace Bridge seized 9,472 pounds of marijuana from a truck driven by a 26-year-old Canadian resident.
Border patrol agents said that the driver presented a manifest indicating that he was transporting storage containers. During a scan of the truck, CBP officers noticed some anomalies with the containers and preformed a more thorough inspection.
During the inspection, agents discovered vacuum sealed packages of what they suspected to be marijuana.
In total, agents found 55 wooden pallet boxes that contained marijuana.
“This is the largest narcotics seizure recorded on the northern border and ranks 23rd in the United States, for a period covering the last 5-years,” the CBP press release states.
“This was an excellent job by our officers from start to finish,” said Port Director Jennifer De La O. “From recognizing a shipment that needed further screening, to the identification of the anomaly during the secondary scan, to the coordination with our partners at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) our officers are committed to intercepting these illicit drugs from being smuggled in.”
The driver was arrested and is facing charges of possessing with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and importation of marijuana into the U.S.
“For the third time in as many weeks, the diligence of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers has resulted in the seizure of literally tons of illegal controlled substances destined for our country,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “In just three weeks, CBP Officers have prevented thousands of pounds of illicit drugs, valued at nearly $30,000,000, from entering our country. We will remain vigilant to protect our border from those who seek to profit from the importation of these illegal substances, as they not only fuel the violent drug trafficking organizations who distribute them but jeopardize the health and well-being of those, including minors, who use them. Because the health, safety, and security of every American matters, so too do our borders.”