Font ResizeEL PASO - An Albuquerque man was arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle about 250 pounds of marijuana into the country just before midnight Friday.
Ten loads totaling 981 pounds of marijuana were seized over the weekend at area ports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday.
The largest load was discovered hidden inside metal containers within the fuel tank of a 2000 Chevy Suburban 23-year-old Chad Lee McKinney was driving into the country at the Bridge of Americas. After being selected for intensive examination, the rear of the vehicle was alerted to by drug-sniffing dog Chip, where the cache was revealed.
McKinney was booked into at the El Paso County Jail and faces federal charges including importation of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Over the weekend, CBP also reported 54 immigration violations, seven impostors, seven fugitives, three vehicle export violations and 21 people trying to leave the country after having entered without proper inspection. And agriculture specialists made seven seizures of prohibited pork, chorizo, bologna, fresh chicken, oranges and tangerines.
