11.30.07
Santa Teresa border patrol agents seize 1,500 lbs. of pot in desert

Posted: Nov 30, 2007 11:32 AM PST

Updated: Nov 30, 2007 11:32 AM PST

By Miguel Martinez

SANTA TERESA -- Border Patrol agents seized over 1,500 lbs. of marijuana smugglers were attempting to bring in through the desert area about 12 miles west of the Santa Teresa port of entry Friday morning.

Agents were to alerted to possible smugglers and responded just outside the port of entry, spotting a brown Chevy pick-up truck traveling north from U.S.-Mexico international boundary. Seeing the agents approach, the driver of the truck turned the vehicle around and began heading south.

Nearing the border, the vehicle stalled in the sandy desert and the driver fled on foot toward the border, back into Mexico. Agents were unable to apprehend the driver, but upon inspection of the abandoned vehicle found several cellophane-wrapped bundles in the bed and rear-seat compartments of the truck.

The bundles yielded a total seizure of 1,500 lbs. of marijuana and the indication of the truck's ignition and steering column indicate it may have been stolen. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1.2 million.

The truck and seized contraband were transported to the Santa Teresa Border Patrol station, where the drugs were then turned over to Drug Enforcement Agents from Las Cruces.







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