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Fort Bliss Soldier Arrested In Drug Case

By KRWG News

El Paso – A 27-year-old Fort Bliss soldier has been arrested after border agents say they found nearly 200 pounds of marijuana in his car at a highway checkpoint.

Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt says Sgt. Octavio Hernandez was arrested Wednesday night at the U.S. Border Patrol's Sierra Blanca checkpoint, about 90 miles east of El Paso. Border Patrol officials say Hernandez, whom they didn't identify by name, was arrested after agents found 196 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle in which he, his wife and his children were traveling.

It's unclear what charges he may face, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating. DEA spokewoman Diana Apodaca said Thursday night that Hernandez had been released from custody, but declined to elaborate on his case.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.