Border Patrol seizes nearly $900,000 worth of marijuana
Reported by: Tara Twietmeyer

Last Update: 12/07 9:38 pm

WELLTON, AZ — U.S. Border Patrol agents have seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana while tracking three different groups of suspected drug smugglers in southwest Arizona.

On Thursday, agents assigned to the Camp Grip location say they found six undocumented immigrants trying to cross into the United States about 30 miles west of the Lukeville port of entry.

Officials say six suspected drug smugglers and six makeshift backpacks full of marijuana were taken into custody. According to agents, the backpacks were full of 13 bundles of marijuana weighing 293 pounds.

On Friday, Camp Grip agents and CBP agents found another group of suspected drug smugglers near the same area. Agents say four more suspected smugglers were arrested and another nine bundles of marijuana, weighing about 43 pounds each were found.

Camp Grip agents say the busts continued Saturday when they found another 10 people that crossed the border, near the same port of entry. This time, the suspected drug smugglers dropped eight backpacks and ran into Mexico to avoid being arrested.

Agents say the backpacks were full of 370 pounds of pot.

All together, Camp Grip agents arrested 10 suspected drug smugglers and seized 1,085 pounds of pot with an estimated street value of $868,000.

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