San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies pulled over a tractor-trailer for a traffic violation on the morning of 23 June 2010 and smelled what they called an overwhelming odor of marijuana.[1][2] The paperwork for the load was not in order, so investigators opened the trailer and found it packed with large cardboard containers on pallets holding thousands of heat-sealed packages.[2]

Inside were about 38,000 pounds (17.2 tonnes) of marijuana, plus about 2,750 pounds of cocaine and 67 pounds of methamphetamine, valued together at about $45 million.[1][2] Sheriff Rod Hoops called it one of the largest seizures in the county.[1] The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Riverside office joined the sheriff’s narcotics division in the continuing investigation.[1]

Deputies arrested the driver, 32-year-old Fernando Luevano of Fontana, and booked him into the Central Detention Center for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics; his bail was set at $5 million and his arraignment was scheduled for that Friday.[1][2]