Border Patrol makes 900-plus-pound haul of pot from fleeing traffickers

By: North County Times wire services -

CAMPO -- An officer with the U.S. Border Patrol seized more than 900 pounds of marijuana and a pickup truck from drug smugglers in the southeastern reaches of San Diego County today, the federal agency announced.

The agent spotted a suspicious-looking 2006 Nissan Frontera traveling to the west on state Route 94 in the Campo area about 7:30 a.m., according to the U.S. Border Patrol public affairs office.

Spotting the law enforcement vehicle, the suspect driver pulled an abrupt U-turn and sped off, leading a chase back to the east on the highway, then south on a dirt road leading to the U.S.-Mexico border.

At the border, the motorist pulled over, jumped out along with a passenger and fled into Baja California, officials said.

At the same time, a group of about 20 suspected illegal immigrants also bolted back across border, one of them pointing a pistol at the agent while fleeing, but firing no shots.

Inside the abandoned truck, the officer found 60 bales of cannabis weighing a total of about 915 pounds. The drug haul had an estimated street value of $735,000.

Authorities seized the marijuana, the vehicle and two large metal ramps the smugglers apparently had erected over the border fence to facilitate their entry into the United States, Border Patrol officials said.

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