Drug smugglers pretend to be federal agency

The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2014 - 9:30 am
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2014 - 10:23 am

TUCSON, Ariz. -- It looked like a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service truck.

But the U.S. Border Patrol says it was actually the latest in a long line of creative attempts by smugglers to get illegal drugs from Mexico into the U.S.

Agents spotted the white truck with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decals along a boundary fence in Douglas, Arizona, on Monday, while responding to reports of possible drug smuggling. When agents tried to contact those inside, the vehicle suddenly stopped and two people fled into Mexico.

Agents say they found 3,200 pounds of marijuana stashed in the truck worth an estimated $1.6 million.

Smugglers have used catapults, tunnels and panga boats to get drugs across the U.S. border.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/04/645...e-federal.html




U.S. Customs and Border Patrol / AP Photo

This Monday, June 2, 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a truck made to look a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service truck, but which was actually carrying more than 3,200 pounds of marijuana, east of Douglas, Ariz. Agents found the truck with the federal agency's decals along the border with Mexico. The driver and a passenger fled from the truck into Mexico after being pulled over by border agents. Agents then discovered that the truck, which had fake decals, was filled with $1.6 million worth of marijuana.