Thousands of pounds of pot seized over the weekend

Posted: Jul 05, 2011 6:26 PM PDT Updated: Jul 05, 2011 6:50 PM PDT

TUCSON, AZ - Southern Arizona Border Patrol agents seized more than 5,000 pounds of marijuana valued at $2.54 million in five separate incidents over the holiday weekend according to a statement by the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Office.

Last night, agents monitoring remote video surveillance equipment spotted suspicious cross-border activity east of Lukeville. Agents on All Terrain Vehicles responded to the area and found 24 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 1,100 pounds.

Earlier the same day, Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range security officials notified the Ajo Station of the Border Patrol that they discovered 20 bundles of suspected narcotics on the military range and requested assistance. An Ajo canine team responded to the area and found 21 additional bundles weighing over 2,000 pounds.

Early on Saturday, agents operating surveillance equipment notified field agents of possibly illicit activity east of Lukeville. Agents found 24 bundles of marijuana weighing approximately 1,200 pounds.

Friday morning, agents working northwest of Lukeville located 13 bundles of marijuana, weighing almost 630 pounds.

On July 4, a canine team from the Willcox Station conducted a vehicle stop near Tombstone. The dog alerted to the truck and agents discovered nearly 400 pounds of marijuana hidden under the bed of the truck. The driver, a female U.S. citizen, was arrested and is being held pending federal drug charges. The marijuana and truck were seized.

http://www.kpho.com/story/15030242/thou ... he-weekend