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Published: 12.20.2006

Border Patrol seizes two tons of pot from stolen vehicles
By Dale Quinn
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Border Patrol agents seized 4,396 pounds of marijuana Tuesday afternoon from two stolen vehicles in the Tohono O'odham Reservation, bringing the total amount of pot seized in the Tucson Sector since Oct. 1 to more than 203,000 pounds.

About 2 p.m., agents assigned to the Ajo Station spotted a truck and an SUV on Federal Route 1 speeding toward the border and attempted to make a traffic stop, said Jesús Rodriguez, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol.

One of the vehicles, a maroon Chevy Suburban, left the roadway several miles north of the border and its occupants fled into the desert. Border Patrol agents found 70 bundles of marijuana in the vehicle.

Three miles down the road, Border Patrol agents used a spike strip to stop the Ford F-150. The occupants of that vehicle were also able to escape on foot, Rodriguez said.

"These guys are moving really fast when they get out of the vehicle," Rodriguez said. "They're sprinting."

Agents found 93 bundles of marijuana in that vehicle. According to the Border Patrol, a check of the vehicles determined they were both stolen.

Both vehicles were turned over to the Tohono O'odham Police Department.

Agents have not been able to apprehend any of the vehicles' occupants, Rodriguez said.

This year's marijuana seizures are on pace to set a record, Rodriguez said.

Contact reporter Dale Quinn at 629-9412 or dquinn@azstarnet.com.


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