[Sativa]

A 79-year-old man was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border with 140 pounds of marijuana hidden in his station wagon, Customs and Border Protection officials said.

Felipe Origel, of El Paso, Texas, was stopped at the Paso Del Norte border crossing shortly before noon on Tuesday.

Leeky, a CBP drug-sniffing dog, alerted officers to Origel's 1988 Subaru station wagon.

Officers searching the vehicle said they noticed an "anomaly" in the gas tank. Because of its unusual appearance, CBP said, officers contacted the El Paso Police Department's bomb squad to determine whether the object was explosive.

The port of entry was closed for more than four hours while the bomb squad assessed the anomaly. When the squad determined that there was no risk, the port was reopened around 4:35 p.m.

CBP officers then continued their inspection of Origel's station wagon. Officials said they found 129 bundles of marijuana hidden in the gas tank, dashboard and under the hood.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Origel.



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Website: 79-Year-Old Arrested In Failed Smuggling Attempt