A man from New York who had 13 pounds of cannabis in his car when he accidentally almost entered Canada was caught by US Customs and Border Protection officers on April 9.

The man, a 25-year-old resident from Rochester, New York, made an unauthorized U-turn on the United States side of the Peace Bridge that connects Buffalo, New York with Fort Erie, Ontario. Police say the man had not intended to enter Canada. 

Following the illegal u-turn, the man entered the primary inspection area used by US border agents where he gave officers a fake name. After the driver was unable to supply an ID to officers, he was escorted to a secondary inspection where 13 pounds of vacuum-sealed cannabis were discovered in a duffle bag behind the driver’s seat of the car.

CBP officers say they were able to determine the actual identity of the driver during the secondary inspection. Field tests confirmed the seized product was cannabis, which police say had an estimated street value of $33,000, or about $5.60 a gram. 

“Our CBP officers continue to perform their jobs at the highest levels,” said Buffalo Assistant Port Director Dawn Caltagirone. “Their training, unmatched skillset and experience help to remove narcotics like these from our community.”

The driver was taken into custody and processed by CBP officers. After processing, the narcotics and driver were turned over to the Buffalo Police Department, where he will face felony charges for Criminal Possession of Cannabis in the First Degree.