EL PASO, Texas, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. authorities said they discovered 30 pounds of marijuana hidden in framed pictures of Jesus Christ being taken across the border from Mexico to Texas.

Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the pictures were in the vehicle of a 22-year-old woman from Juarez, Mexico, who was attempting to cross the border into El Paso, Texas, CNN reported Thursday.


"This is not the first time we have seen smugglers attempt to use religious figures and articles of faith to further their criminal enterprise," said William Molaski, port director of the agency's El Paso office.

"What some might find offensive or sacrilegious has unfortunately become a standard operating procedure for drug smugglers. This would include using religious symbols, children and senior citizens in their attempts to defeat the CBP inspection process," he said.

Molaski said the woman was arrested.