Nearly 400 lbs. of marijuana seized from horse trailer

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ALAMOGORDO, N.M. -- More than 380 pounds of marijuana were seized at a traffic checkpoint on U.S. 54 this weekend, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials announced Monday.

Border Patrol agents received information from the Drug Enforcement Administration about a suspect vehicle coming through the U.S. 54 checkpoint station. The suspect vehicle, a 2006 Dodge Ram pulling a horse trailer, pulled into the checkpoint, officials said.

Agents noticed the vehicle had no license plate and became suspicious of the mannerisms being displayed by the driver, a 35-year old U.S. citizen from Oklahoma.

Agents were given consent to look inside the trailer and tack room. A canine inspection of the truck and trailer led agents to a hidden compartment behind a wall inside the horse trailer.

Using a fiber optic scope to look inside the wall, agents found a cardboard box inside the compartment. They then found eight duffle bags and a box containing plastic wrapped bundles of marijuana, officials said.

A total of 328 bundles were discovered with a total weight of 383.22 pounds, CBP officials said.

Agents arrested the driver of the Dodge Ram and turned him over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the seized drugs.

To date in fiscal year 2008, agents from the El Paso sector have made 845 drug seizures, valued at $71 million. That figure includes the seizure of 78,795 pounds of marijuana and 234 pounds of cocaine, officials said.

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