see also: in October 2007 News Releases:   Cocaine Smuggler Tries To Trick El Paso CBP Officers by Hiding Drugs in Car Body   Border Patrol Agents in Texas Seize Marijuana Worth $1 Million Hidden Under Watermelons   Fingerprint Check Allows Border Patrol to Arrest Murder Suspect   Border Patrol Texas Task Force Seizes 500 Pounds of Marijuana   CBP Officers at Mail Facility Find Marijuana in Cement Statues, Opium   Tecate, Calif. Cargo Processing Port to Resume Operations Wednesday Morning   CBP at Newark Airport Discovers Man with Fraudulent Documents, False Claim to U.S. Citizenship ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Detroit – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from the Fort Street cargo facility, Ambassador Bridge, encountered a trucker who was attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States. The driver was a member of Free and Secure Trade, or FAST, a registered traveler program for frequent crossers.

The driver, Jasey Cote, a 25-year-old Canadian from Tecumseh, Ontario, arrived at the cargo facility at approximately 2:25 a.m., where he told the officers that he was going to pick up a trailer for a return trip to Canada. The officer performed an inspection of the tractor and found a large duffle bag on the bunk in the truck.

The bag was found to contain a green leafy substance that later tested positive as marijuana. The driver was immediately secured and detained at the facility. Further inspection of the tractor by CBP’s gamma ray inspection device revealed two more duffel bags secreted in the sleeper area. The marijuana, 65 kilos in all, was seized by CBP.

Cote was paroled into the U.S. and he, his truck and the marijuana were turned over to local authorities for further processing. Cote’s FAST card and participation in the FAST program were immediately revoked.

"This driver had been entrusted, by his membership in the FAST program, with status as a low risk traveler", said Gary Calhoun, acting port director, "and violation of that trust will not be tolerated at any time."

Travelers who participate in the Free and Secure Trade program are afforded expedited processing when crossing the border. As a participant in these Registered Travelers Programs, these travelers are bestowed with a higher level of trust and confidence in regards to security when crossing the border. Because of this higher level of trust and confidence that has been bestowed on the participants, violations of this trust will not be tolerated. Violations will result in prosecution of the violator to the fullest extent of the law.

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 the 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.