see also: in October 2005 Press Releases:   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 1030 Pounds of Marijuana and Arrest a Wanted Fugitive   Border Patrol Agent Assaulted at Checkpoint   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over 104 Lbs. of Cocaine   CBP South Florida Ports of Entry Update   CBP Provides Assistance with Hurricane Wilma Fuel Crisis   United States – Australia Join Efforts To Validate Travel Documents   CBP Miami Field Office Post Hurricane Wilma Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Sumas, Wash.- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Sumas port of entry seized 333 pounds of marijuana concealed in a horse trailer yesterday. Two Canadian men were arrested in the smuggling attempt and face federal charges.

Paul Shedeger, 68, of Surrey, British Columbia, and Erich Kreppenhofer, 60, of Abbotsford, BC, had their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle this afternoon. Shedeger, the driver of the vehicle and trailer, arrived at the port of Sumas shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday. Kreppenhofer, the owner of the pickup truck and horse trailer met him at the port office where he was to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian to import the horse into the U.S.

Sumas CBP officers discovered the marijuana concealed within the horse trailer. The horse in the trailer at the time of the discovery was returned to its owner in Canada. Examination of the nose section of the trailer revealed 10 hockey bags containing the marijuana. The truck and trailer, valued at $ 30,000, were also seized.

Customs and Border Protection Blaine Service Area Port Director Peg Fearon congratulated the Sumas officers involved in the seizure. “This is the second significant seizure of BC Bud at Whatcom county border ports this week,” Fearon said. “Stopping terrorists and the weapons of terror is our number one priority, but drug smugglers should realize that we have not let down our guard in our efforts to prevent drug smuggling.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the smuggling attempt.

The marijuana seized Thursday, the highly potent “B.C. Bud” variety, has an estimated value of $1 million.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.