Authorities: 614 pounds of marijuana found in shipping container at Philadelphia port

PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - Federal authorities in Philadelphia say they have seized nearly 614 pounds of marijuana that was concealed inside the bottom of a shipping container.

Authorities say the illegal shipment was discovered inside a shipping container that arrived from Puerto Rico back on Thursday, March 7.

While examining the container, customs officers found anomalies inside the containers' floor, and a narcotics-detecting dog alerted a presence of narcotics.

In total, 252 bricks of marijuana were found inside the container. The shipment has an estimated street value of approximately $2.5 million.

The container was carrying a shipment of rice that was destined for an address in North Jersey.

"This is one of the largest seizures of marijuana that Customs and Border Protection officers have encountered in the Area Port of Philadelphia," said Casey Durst, CBP's Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. "This is an outstanding example of how CBP keeps our communities safe from illegal drugs."

The case was turned over to Homeland Security and the investigation is ongoing.