C.B.P. News Release

Tucson Weekend Seizures Net $3.6 Million in Marijuana

(Monday, September 27, 2010)

Tucson, Ariz. – In six unrelated incidents this weekend, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 4,500 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of more than $3.6 million.

The largest seizure of the weekend occurred Friday when Ajo agents responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the West Desert. Agents were able to locate and follow vehicle tracks to an abandoned pickup truck containing more than 2,400 pounds of marijuana. The narcotics, valued at almost $2 million, and the vehicle were taken to the Ajo station for processing.

Another significant seizure occurred Friday at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 19, near Tubac, Ariz. A Border Patrol canine unit, assigned to the Nogales station, alerted to a truck during primary inspection. During secondary inspection, agents scanned the vehicle using Non-Intrusive Inspection technology and found more than 700 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $575,000. The truck, marijuana and driver were taken to the Nogales station for processing.

In the final four incidents, agents from the Nogales, Tucson and Willcox stations seized more than 1,400 pounds across the Tucson sector.

“These seizures are evidence that the Tucson Sector Border Patrol is effectively implementing assets to prevent illegal narcotics from reaching the streets of our communities,â€