Boxes containing 580 pounds of marijuana July 31 at the Gallup Port of Entry. Photo Courtesy NMSP

Photo Courtesy NMSP

Bags of marijuana were sealed in Home Depot boxes. Photo Courtesy NMSP

A few of the 495 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana discovered July 31 by New Mexico State Police officers at the Gallup Port of Entry. Photo Courtesy NMSP

NMSP NEWS

On July 31 at approximately 4 p.m., the New Mexico State Police conducted a safety cab inspection on a 2014 Freightliner commercial motor vehicle at the Gallup Port of Entry west of Gallup. During the inspection, officers discovered 495 vacuumed sealed packages of marijuana. The packages were concealed inside 20 Home Depot boxes in the trailer of the vehicle. The total amount of marijuana seized weighed 580 pounds.

The driver, Binyam Habtamu Getahun, 36, of Alexandria, Virg., and the co-driver, Mazemr Abebe Belayneh, 64, of Snellville, Georgia were both arrested. They were booked into the McKinley County Detention Center without incident. Getahun and Belayneh were charged with the following:

• Possession of Marijuana with intent to Distribute, 30-31-22 (A), a 3^rd Degree Felony contrary to NMSA 1978
• Possession of Marijuana, 30-31-23 (A), a 4^th Degree Felony contrary to NMSA 1978.