Ford’s Mexico Car Factory Used to Smuggle Marijuana into Minnesota

New Ford Fusions manufactured in Mexico have been used to smuggle illegal marijuana into Minnesota. Cartels are, apparently, getting more creative. The marijuana brought in isn’t going to the dispensaries – it’s going to the black market.

It appears that El Chapo’s cartel is still fully functional, Alpha News Minnesota reports. Between February and March this year, 1,100 pounds of marijuana were found hidden in brand new Ford Fusions. At least 22 vehicles had marijuana stuffed into the trunks of the cars.

A report in early February led St. Paul police to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad holding lot. Cars are inspected before they are loaded for transport to dealerships, which is how the stashes of marijuana were found.

The cartels were using the spare tires and spare tire wells to hide marijuana. Some vehicles that were already sent to local dealerships and car rental companies were later inspected and marijuana was found in them as well. The cars averaged 40 to 60 pounds of marijuana each.

Detective John Sherwin said, “I was told by SPPD that this is pretty typical. Drugs often come into the US with imported consumer goods.”

An unidentified, licensed U.S. customs broker said, “Only 4-percent of commercial shipments are actually inspected by CBP, leaving a huge opportunity for smuggling drugs, weapons, and people into the United States. Spotters can identify rail car numbers and shipping manifests are public knowledge. And a couple of pounds of drugs in each car wouldn’t raise an eyebrow like extra weight would in ocean freight.”