Police in the Rio Grande Valley have a new tactic in the war against pot smugglers: staking out office supply stores.

In three cases since last November, suspects have been followed after making large purchases of cellophane. Here's more on the most recent case, from Valleycentral.com.

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested George Luis Balboa, Gregorio Galindo-Romero and his son Raymundo Galindo-Alcazar on federal drug charges Tuesday. A criminal complaint filed in their case shows authorities spotted Balboa making a suspicious cellophane purchase at the Office Depot off North 10th Street in McAllen. Balboa allegedly led undercover officers to the parking lot of the Peter Piper Pizza off South Cage Boulevard in Pharr where Galindo-Romero and his son were allegedly waiting. Authorities followed the father and son to a nearby house off South Fir Street where authorities allegedly found packing materials and scales. Pharr police conducted a traffic stop and allegedly found three bundles of marijuana in Balboa's car. Court records show that authorities found another 160 bundles at his house at 5824 North 42nd Street in McAllen.

While he is naturally opposed to the tactic, drug law activist / syndicated commentator Dean Becker says it makes sense that the law is using this approach in the Valley.

"That's where they have to bag up the big shipments," he explains.

But who knows? Maybe they are watching our suspicious cellophane purchases up here in Houston too. So those of you with big families, look out when you're buying your sandwich bags for your kids' lunches.

And Hair Balls has a question for you legal types: since when did buying cellophane become probable cause?