Thread: Who says drugs and illegals are unrelated matters?!?

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/135778

Published: 06.29.2006

Border agents seize 3.5 tons of pot
By Aaron Mackey
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Border Patrol agents seized nearly 7,000 pounds of marijuana in the past two days in three separate incidents.
In Wednesday's seizure, an agent was patrolling along Arizona 86 about 100 miles west of Tucson when he noticed tire tracks heading north into the desert, said Sean King, an agency spokesman.
The agent found an empty black 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck parked in the desert about two miles from the road, King said.
Inside the truck, which was reported stolen, the agent found 1,740 pounds of marijuana.
Agents searched the area but couldn't find a driver.
In Tuesday's first incident, an agent was on patrol along Federal Route 1 near Ajo about 9 a.m. when he pulled over a white Chevrolet pickup truck towing a trailer, said Gustavo Soto, an agency spokesman.
The agent believed there was marijuana in the truck and called for a drug-sniffing dog to investigate, Soto said.
The dog smelled marijuana, and agents arrested the two men in the truck, Soto said.
The truck and trailer were taken to the Ajo station where they were searched. Inside, agents found 1,900 pounds of marijuana, he said.
In another incident, agents were patrolling south of Arivaca later Tuesday when they saw two Ford pickup trucks heading north on Tres Bellotas Road, Soto said.
When agents began following the trucks, both vehicles turned around and headed southwest toward the border, Soto said.
One truck became stuck in a ditch while another stopped on a hill, Soto said.
The occupants ran from the area and are believed to have crossed back into Mexico, Soto said.
Both trucks, which had been reported stolen, were taken to a Border Patrol station and searched. Inside the vehicles, agents found 3,442 pounds of marijuana, Soto said.

72 Hour Pot Bust
June 29, 2006, 09:40 PM MST


Millie Martinez, KOLD News 13 Reporter

In 72 hours nearly seven thousand pounds of marijuana was seized.

The seizures happened near Ajo south of Arivaca and along Arizona 86 about 100 miles west of Tucson.

"The vehicle barriers themselves really helped in this case, " Gustavo Soto a Border Patrol spokesman said.


Technology like infared cameras, sensors and unmanned surviellance aircraft are effective tools used to catch drug smugglers and immigrants.

But, earlier this month National Guard Troops came to the aid of agents, helping out authorties in a big way.

Gustavo Soto said, "Now with the National guard coming in to help us do these tasks we will free up agents and put agents on the border and thats what we have been wanting to do."


So, with road barriers, new technology and more manpower Border Patrol agents are confident more busts will happen again.

The estimated street value of all the seizures totaled to more than five million dollars.

Those driving the vehicles were not arrested. Two of the drivers ran from the area and crossed back into Mexico.

http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s= ... =Printable

http://www.elpasotimes.com/portlet/arti ... le=3992053

Coke worth $600,000 found at Border Patrol checkpoint
Times staff report
El Paso Times

Border Patrol agents discovered more than 19 pounds of cocaine in a car at the Interstate 25 checkpoint north of Las Cruces last Friday, officials said Wed nesday.
Eight bundles of the drug were in a hidden compartment in the dash of a Ford Focus driven by a 40-year-old man from Mexico.

Agents said the man appeared nervous and an unusual odor was coming from the car. A drug-sniffing dog found the contraband, worth an estimated $600,000. The man, cocaine and car were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Daniel Borunda

When I recently debated one of the illegal loving activists, he said I was talking apples and oranges when I said that drugs and illegal alien trafficing go hand in hand! HA!