4,700 pounds of pot seized by Border Patrol

Loads of marijuana worth $2.3 million

Posted Jul 25, 2011, 3:31 pm
Janet Rose Jackman TucsonSentinel.com

Border Patrol agents found more than 4,700 pounds of marijuana, worth $2.3 million, in separate incidents Sunday near Why and Douglas, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Ajo Station agents searching an area of S.R. 85 south of Why discovered two pickup trucks loaded with 207 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 4,400 pounds.

Both vehicles, which had been reported stolen, were turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The marijuana, worth $2.2 million, was to be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Later that night, agents using thermal imaging found a group of suspected drug smugglers loading marijuana into a vehicle northwest of Douglas. Douglas Police officers chased the driver who fled an attempted stop, the Border Patrol said.

Two people tried to abandon the vehicle, but police were able to apprehend one. The other is believed to have fled into Mexico.

Agents recovered seven bundles of marijuana weighing 326 pounds worth $163,000. The marijuana was to be handed over to the DEA and the suspect was held for

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