see also: in March 2002:   U.S. Customs Inspection Results in the Seizure of 160 Pounds of Cocaine   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize a Quarter of a Million Dollars in Hidalgo; Two Arrested   Customs Officers Seize 58,925 Tablets of Ecstasy And Arrest Man at Miami International Airport   U.S. Customs, 10 Foreign Countries, Serve Multiple Search Warrants on Internet Child Pornography Ring   U.S. Customs Inspectors in Eagle Pass Make Seven Marijuana Seizures in 72 Hours   U.S. Customs Service Inspectors Seize 298 Pounds of Cocaine in Port of Miami   U.S. Customs Inspectors in Roma Seize $3.8 Million in Cocaine Over Five-Day Period ...more

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New York, N.Y. - U.S. Customs inspectors and National Guardsmen working at the Alexandria Bay, New York Port of Entry seized 1,275 pounds of hydroponic marijuana and 4,565 tablets of MDMA (Ecstasy), hidden in a tractor-trailer entering the United States from Canada. Three people, all French-Canadians, were arrested.

During an examination of a 2000 Eagle tractor-trailer, which was hauling a shipment of peat moss to South Carolina, U.S. Customs inspectors, and a National Guardsman, on hand to assist in cargo inspections, found the packages of marijuana and Ecstasy co-mingled with the load of peat moss. The seized ecstasy could bring an estimated $125,000 profit, and the street value of the marijuana is approximately $3.2 million.

The driver, Yvan Boucher, 31 years old, and his cousin, Patrick Lauzon, 28, were arrested on Federal charges of importation and possession with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

A third individual, Martin Theriault, 37 years old, was also arrested by U.S. Customs special agents when he arrived at the port exam site to meet the traffickers. Theriault allegedly was the trucking boss or "exporter" of the drugs, which were ultimately destined for distribution in the NYC metro area.

U.S. Customs agents were assisted in the investigation by New York State Police, New York State Park Police, DEA, and by Canadian Customs.

The three defendants will be arraigned today before a Federal magistrate in Syracuse, NY, and prosecuted by the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of N.Y.