Smugglers intercepted at border, fire at agents

Associated Press - December 2, 2008 6:24 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A gunman working with drug smugglers fired at but missed federal agents Monday after they intercepted two trucks loaded with marijuana on the west side of Douglas.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol spokesmen said surveillance camera operators saw two pickups cross an 8 to 10 foot border fence using a truck-mounted ramp, then sent agents to intercept the vehicles.

The smugglers turned back south as agents approached, and a gunman in Mexico fired an automatic rifle. Deflation devices flattened the trucks' tires, but one made it near the fence and smugglers unloaded its bales back into Mexico before torching the truck.

Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents recovered more than 1,150 pounds of pot worth an estimated $1 million from the second vehicle.

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