Border Patrol finds 3 horses leaded with pot:

Apr. 13, 2011 11:53 AM ET

NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Border Patrol says they've found three horses carrying nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana east of Nogales.

Spokeswoman Colleen Agle says the horses have been turned over to the Arizona Department of Agriculture. The marijuana was seized, and no smugglers were found.

Agle told the Nogales International that last week's incident is relatively rare but has happened before. Smugglers like to use horses because they can carry bigger loads. But she said smugglers often don't take good care of the animals.

Smugglers commonly carry makeshift marijuana backpacks themselves across rugged parts of southern Arizona as they bring the pot north.

Agriculture Department spokeswoman Laura Oxley says the animals will be auctioned off if they aren't claimed by an owner.

Information from: Nogales International,

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/

Arizona wants stricter laws against illegal aliens and undocumented criminals illegally entering the State from across the border, but were denied legal rights to enforce such laws by Arizona's Federal Court.