Kathy Porter Rodriguez
| 
Vernon Martinez
| 
156 lbs of marijuana seized from a 96 Dodge Ram
|
(Deming) – Two Santa Fe residents were caught at the Columbus port of entry trying to smuggle nearly $125,000 worth of marijuana into New Mexico from Mexico.
The driver, 49-year-old Kathy Porter Rodriguez, and her passenger, 49-year-old Vernon Martinez, are facing federal drug smuggling charges in connection with the 156 pounds of marijuana seized from their 1996 Dodge Ram truck.
The marijuana was detected by a “Buster” density meter which showed high readings consistent with hidden contraband. The density meter was used after officers selected the vehicle for a secondary search because of a number of issues that arose during an initial conversation with the occupants.
An x-ray of the truck spotted anomalies in several locations, and the 139 marijuana-filled bundles were removed from hidden compartments in the quarter panels and rear wall of the
pickup.
Acting Columbus port director Jose Robles said the arrests resulted from hard-working Customs and Border Protection officers and advanced technology.
The driver, 49-year-old Kathy Porter Rodriguez, and her passenger, 49-year-old Vernon Martinez, are facing federal drug smuggling charges in connection with the 156 pounds of marijuana seized from their 1996 Dodge Ram truck.
The marijuana was detected by a “Buster” density meter which showed high readings consistent with hidden contraband. The density meter was used after officers selected the vehicle for a secondary search because of a number of issues that arose during an initial conversation with the occupants.
An x-ray of the truck spotted anomalies in several locations, and the 139 marijuana-filled bundles were removed from hidden compartments in the quarter panels and rear wall of the
pickup.
Acting Columbus port director Jose Robles said the arrests resulted from hard-working Customs and Border Protection officers and advanced technology.
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