Trooper finds 3.9 tons of marijuana in Texas tanker after routine traffic stop

Marijuana, with an estimated street value of $3.4 million discovered by a trooper during routine vehicle check

The marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $3.4 million, was discovered by a trooper in San Patricio County, Texas, on Tuesday. (Police Handout)

When a Texas trooper pulled over a tanker during a routine traffic stop earlier this week they could scarcely have expected what they found.

What began as a routine vehicle inspection ended as a major drugs bust when 3.9 tons of marijuana were found concealed inside the tanker rig.

The marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $3.4 million, was discovered by a trooper in San Patricio County, Texas, on Tuesday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety trooper had stopped the 1999 truck for a routine cargo inspection.

The driver of the vehicle, Paul Anthony Simmons, 45, was subseqeuntly arrested for possession of marijuana and a $1million bail was posted.

Mr Simmons is from nearby Robstown, outside of Corpus Christi.

"It's a big, significant seizure," a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said.