CHAMPLAIN -- A New York City man faces federal charges after allegedly trying to cross the border with nearly two dozen pounds of ecstasy.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Mario Vasquez-Urena was trying to smuggle about 31,200 pills into the United States through the Champlain border crossing.

The 30-year-old stopped at the border Monday and claimed to be returning to the country after spending the day with a Canadian relative.

His admission request seemed questionable to border officials and prompted a secondary inspection.

That's when, they say, a narcotics dog alerted inspectors to the undercarriage of his vehicle.

Inside a spare tire, they allegedly found 30 vacuum-sealed bags filled with the popular club drug.

Border officials said the drugs have a street value of $625,000.

"This interception of ecstasy has prevented a very dangerous drug from reaching our streets," Acting Champlain Port Director Steven Bronson said in a news release Friday.

Vasquez-Urena was charged with the importation and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and was turned over to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

avanvalkenburg

@pressrepublican.com