HOUSTON -- To continue on Crosby-Lynchburg Road, you must take the ferry.

But one day, you couldn’t get to the other side without going through the United States Coast Guard.

With help from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, every person driving this way was forced to stop. The Coast Guard doesn’t need probable cause to search anyone about to get on the ferry The process took just a few minutes unless you had something to hide.  Basically what the Coast Guard is running is a homeland security operation, but what they are finding are people with drugs and outstanding warrants.

One passenger had a small bag of marijuana. Sheriff deputies put it on a scale, and it weighed in at 17.5 grams.

The suspect allegedly had other issues.

“You’ve got a probation violation,” the Coast Guard told him.

Some of the drivers coming this way turned back when they saw the checkpoint. They gave Harris County probable cause. One driver didn’t get far, and their licenses were checked out by the deputies.

“In a cooperative effort, we come out to lend their support,” Sgt. David Crain said. “We use our computers to check these people locally as well, and generally the ones who have state charges.”

In all, 21 people were arrested in just a few short hours.