Pharr, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Pharr/Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility seized over 1,100 pounds of alleged marijuana in a commercial shipment of clay pots. The estimated street value of the marijuana is $904,760.

	click for hi-res 1,877 packages were intercepted in the bust.

On April 21, CBP officers at the Pharr cargo facility came in contact with a white 1987 Volvo tractor pulling a utility trailer which contained a manifested commercial shipment of clay pots. The tractor/trailer was referred to secondary for an intensive examination of both cargo and conveyance. In secondary CBP officers discovered packages of alleged marijuana which were concealed within the clay pots. CBP officers discovered 1,877 packages containing approximately 513 kilograms (1,130.95 pounds) of alleged marijuana.

	click for hi-res Clay pot exposing package of marijuana.

CBP seized the marijuana, the tractor/trailer and the cargo as well.

“Drug trafficking organizations utilize a wide variety of techniques to smuggle narcotics in commercial shipments as evident by previous seizures and this latest interception involving clay pots. Our officers utilize all available tools and especially their inquisitive sense for detecting anomalies, whether it’s in the private vehicle environment or in the commercial arena to detect narcotics and keep them from crossing our border,” said Efrain Solis Jr., port director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.

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.