Federal Highway Police in Brazil intercepted 6.7 tonnes of marijuana and 18.5 kilograms of skunk, a high-potency cannabis derivative, during an early-morning stop on the BR-163 motorway in Guaíra, western Paraná state, on Saturday. The seizure is the largest recorded by the force in the state this year, according to a police statement.

The operation unfolded around 5:25 a.m. local time when officers at a fixed checkpoint pulled over a truck and semi-trailer combination carrying a shipping container. The driver initially told police the container was empty, but a physical inspection revealed it was packed with bales of the drug, the Federal Highway Police said.

After the discovery, the driver admitted he was aware of the illicit cargo and stated that the consignment was destined for Curitiba, the state capital. Both the driver and a female passenger, each aged 39, were taken into custody at the scene and later transferred to the Federal Police station in Guaíra, where the case was registered.

The exact weight of 6,795.5 kilograms was confirmed after official weighing of the vehicle and deduction of the truck and container tare. The suspects, the truck, and the drugs remain in the custody of federal authorities as investigations continue.