MARFA, Texas — Officials from area public schools and the U.S. Border Patrol Big Bend sector met recently to discuss the agency’s policy regarding school bus inspections at checkpoints following an incident where nearly 500 pounds of marijuana was discovered on a bus here, according to a story on bigbendnow.com.

According to the news source, Border Patrol agent Steven Crump said that agents usually run drug- and human-detecting canines along the downwind side of vehicles stopped at checkpoints to detect any hidden contraband or passengers. Now, they’re going to have a canine unit check three sides of the bus instead of just the downwind side.

If a canine alerts to a hidden substance on a school bus, the bus will be sent to a secondary inspection, the bus driver and faculty will be notified of the situation, and all passengers will be asked to exit the bus and leave all their belongings on board. If any narcotics are found, the case will then be handed over to Drug Enforcement Administration officials and local police officers, and school officials will be notified.

To read the full story, click here.

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• DOT: 'Recreational' pot still off-limits for bus drivers

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