A Chihuahua, Mexico, man pleaded guilty in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in a marijuana smuggling case.
Franz Thiessen Enns, 56, pleaded guilty April 2 in federal court to importing and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute.
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, Enns was trying to enter the United States at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, port of entry on Jan. 22 and said he was traveling to El Paso to shop.
Want more news like this? Click here to subscribe to elpasotimes.com.
More: Crime of Week: 2 men beat victim in Dewey’s Corner Pub, then 1 broke woman’s nose
More: Have you seen El Paso County’s most wanted fugitives for April 5, 2020?
More: Fugitive fatally shot after allegedly ambushing El Paso County deputies with assault rifle
He said he had two bottles of alcohol to declare, but didn’t mention the marijuana load hidden in his car, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice’s District of New Mexico.
U.S Customs and Border Protection agents inspected his car and found 57.4 kilograms, or about 126.5 pounds, of marijuana in the gas tank, the news release says.
Enns is in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces as many as 20 years in federal prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara N. Cobos.
Read or Share this story: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2020/04/07/chihuahua-mexico-man-franz-thiessen-enns-pleads-guilty-marijuana-smuggling-santa-teresa-port-entry/2966876001/