see also: in April 2008:   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $1.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes   Border Patrol Launches Rhode Island Search   Border Patrol Agent Search Launches in Atlanta   Two Weeks = Two Tons of Marijuana Seized at Arizona Port of Entry   CBP Officers in Texas Find $3 Million Worth of Dope in 'Empty' Sea Container   New Jersey CBP Officers Make $4 Million Heroin Candy Bar Bust   Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Charleston, S.C. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Charleston, S.C., port of entry seized 2,075 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $1.4 million concealed in a shipment of clay pottery.

On March 17, CBP officers, discovered anomalies in a container while scanning it. Further examination revealed 1,440 concealed packages of a green leafy substance. The substance field-tested positive for marijuana.

The shipment was then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation. Through interagency coordination, ICE agents arrested five subjects. The subjects are currently in custody awaiting prosecution.

"This attempt to traffic more than a ton of marijuana shows the brazen disregard of the law by these criminals," said Kenneth Smith, special agent in charge of ICE's investigations office in Atlanta. "More importantly, it shows how ICE and CBP closely coordinate our inspections and investigations to ensure our ports are safe."

Robert Gomez, CBP’s field operations director for Atlanta, said "CBP will continue to work with ICE and other agencies to combat the importation of illegal drugs into the United States."

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.