Border agents reporting record drug seizures



7:32 p.m. July 14, 2009

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reporting record drug seizures for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30.
According to the agency, which includes the Border Patrol, customs officers and air and marine operations, more than 3.3 million pounds of drugs were intercepted at and in between ports of entry along both the southern and northern borders. This is an increase of 64.3 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
The largest marijuana seizure occurred in late March, when agency officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry intercepted a commercial tractor-trailer loaded with 10,764 pounds of marijuana.
Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Jacqueline Dizdul credited a larger presence of border security personnel, among other things.
“Over the past few years we have made significant investments in additional personnel, infrastructure and technology,â€