Border Patrol Agents in Tucson Nab Close to Ton of Drugs Overnight

Tucson, AZ. April 23, 2008 — Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande and Douglas Border Patrol stations successfully seized more than 1,700 pounds of marijuana in two separate incidents on Wednesday.

While patrolling in a remote area early Wednesday morning, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Casa Grande Arizona Border Patrol station performed a vehicle stop on a suspicious vehicle. Initially the driver refused to stop, but subsequently abandoned the vehicle and absconded into the desert. A search of the vehicle yielded ninety-nine bundles of marijuana weighing nearly 1,130 pounds with an estimated street value of $904,000.00.

In another incident, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Douglas Border Patrol station observed a vehicle traveling north from the international boundary in an area commonly used by human and narcotics smugglers. The driver refused to stop the vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Phoenix, Ariz. Border Patrol agents deployed a tire deflation device and successfully disabled the vehicle. Two individuals exited the vehicle and were able to abscond into Mexico. Border Patrol agents discovered several bundles of marijuana weighing more than 590 pounds with an estimated street value of $472,000.00.

In both cases the vehicles and marijuana seized were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection