The case remained under investigation by local police and the DEA, and no arrests had been made.[1] Sheriff David W. Doak told NBC News that police were called to a dealership about a week ago when a suspicious package was found concealed in the trunk wheel of a new Ford Fusion.[1] Portage County police told NBC News that authorities had seized 400 pounds of marijuana worth $1 million hidden in cars at Ohio dealerships.[1]

More marijuana blocks were recovered from other vehicles at that dealership, and a neighboring county reported five other Ford Fusions with concealed narcotics.[1] In total, 400 pounds of marijuana were recovered from 15 vehicles at the Ohio dealerships.[1] The marijuana was tightly packed and hidden in the spare tire wheel wells of the Ford Fusions.[1]

The cars were manufactured in Mexico and crossed the Mexican border into Arizona on their way to Trumbull County, where they were dropped off at a rail yard.[1] Ford has a plant in Sonora, Mexico.[1] Silverio Balzano of the DEA’s Youngstown office said those working at the Mexican plant might not have even been involved.[1] Balzano said investigators did not know at what point the marijuana was put into the vehicles.[1] Ford denied that the incident happened at the Mexico plant and said it was working with the FBI and customs on an extensive investigation.[1]