Published: 04.20.2007

Border Patrol seizes nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana

ARIZONA DAILY STAR
U.S. Border Patrol agents seized close to 2,000 pounds of marijuana Friday morning in two separate incidents in the desert southwest of Tucson.

At 5 a.m. an agent using night scope goggles spotted a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck driving across the border illegally near the village of San Miguel on the Tohono O’odham Reservation, said Gustavo Soto, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman.

After a helicopter began tracking the truck, the driver turned off the lights and continued north at high speeds on a dirt road. The truck rammed into an agent sitting in a Border Patrol Ford pickup with a cage on the back that was stationary facing south, Soto said. The driver left the truck and ran into the desert, Soto said.

The agent, who was momentarily dazed but didn’t suffer injuries, found bundles of marijuana, a two-way radio and a bullet proof vest inside. Agents believe the driver escaped back to Mexico.

Officials haven’t determined the exact weight of the dope but early indications show it is likely close to 1,000 pounds, Soto said.

The second incident occurred late Thursday night near Three Points when agents seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana and numerous weapons. Soto could not details in that case.


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