Six tons of marijuana found in yam shipment
NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) -- Federal agents discovered more than 6 tons of marijuana in a shipment of yams that arrived at Port Elizabeth from Jamaica, federal authorities said Wednesday.
The 12,750 pounds of marijuana were worth at least $6 million, said Special Agent Lawrence Hardie of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "It's a substantial seizure," he said.
The drugs were found Monday during an inspection of a freight container. Authorities said they believe a New York company listed as the importer was fictitious.
The company's name surfaced a year earlier when Customs officers found 877 pounds of marijuana in an abandoned shipment of pumpkins.