SANTA TERESA: Two men were arrested on Super Bowl after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 600 pounds of marijuana during two separate stops at the Santa Teresa port of entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection say the first stop was made shortly before 9 a.m. when a Buick Rendezvous entered the port from Mexico. A CBP officer scanned the vehicle with a “Buster” density meter and received high readings consistent with hidden contraband when checking the bumper.
With the help of a drug sniffing dog, CBP officers located 80 marijuana-filled bundles hidden in the rear bumper. The drugs weighed 87 pounds and have an estimated street value of $69,600.
The driver of the car, 30-year-old Christian Moises Estrada of El Paso, Texas, was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations’ special agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a much larger seizure happened around 3 p.m. when a GMC van pulled into the port from Mexico. An officer noted an anomaly in the appearance of the vehicle.
The vehicle was scanned with a “Buster” density meter and received high readings consistent with hidden contraband when scanning the ceiling of the vehicle.
CPB officers moved the vehicle to a secondary exam area and scanned the vehicle with and X-ray system. The scan showed irregularities in the ceiling and quarter panels of the vehicle.
Officers located 469 marijuana-filled bundles hidden in the ceiling of the van. The drugs weighed 527 pounds and have an estimated street value of $421, 600.
The driver, identified as Marcos Antonio Pargas, 29, of Los Lunas was turned over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.
