Nearly $3 million in cocaine seized
March 04, 2011 8:23 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector seized more than 86 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $2.78 million, on Thursday while working checkpoint operations on Interstate 8.

According to the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, the agents, who were from the Wellton Station, referred a white Toyota van for a secondary inspection after a canine team alerted to the vehicle.

The driver consented to a search of the vehicle, and agents discovered packages of cocaine hidden inside the roof.

The cocaine and the two occupants of the vehicle, one U.S. citizen and one Mexican citizen who is a lawfully admitted permanent resident, were arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The vehicle was seized by the Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/vehicle-681 ... eized.html