NOGALES, AZ - There’s a new hero to thank for the safe rescue of a recently endangered load of fresh bell peppers. An unidentified, yet undeniably brave, canine officer alerted authorities to the true nature of a recent fresh produce shipment, leading them to discover nearly 7 tons of marijuana hidden amongst the load.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made the discovery at the Mariposa Commercial Facility over the weekend in the Nogales, Arizona, area. According to a release, the drugs were moved in a tractor trailer carrying the bell peppers, but were discovered when offloaded for further inspection. 

Enter our favorite new officer. The unknown CBP narcotics detection canine used his disciplined skills to alert his human counterparts that a suspicious order had been detected. The unassuming load was then revealed to contain over 13,700 pounds of marijuana, mixed in with the bell peppers.

Authorities have estimated the value of the bust to be around $6.5 million. The driver of the tractor trailer was a 46-year-old man from Mexico, and was subsequently arrested. 

Was this another victory for the world of fresh produce? This author thinks so, with a nod to the four-legged hero of the day.