November 4, 09

NEWS / Agents on Arizona Border Seize Marijuana, Arrest Suspected Smugglers

Wellton, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents seized nearly $170,000 of marijuana while tracking suspected drug smugglers in a desolate area of southwest Arizona.


On November 1, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma Sector’s Camp Grip base began tracking the footprints of several individuals approximately 30 miles west of the Lukeville, Ariz. port of entry. The agents had been tracking the footprints of the subjects for nearly 14 hours when they discovered five abandoned backpacks containing bundles of marijuana.


Agents secured the contraband and continued tracking the suspected smugglers’ footprints that led away from the abandoned backpacks. A short time later, agents arrested five suspected smugglers about a half a mile away.


Agents seized a total of 210.8 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $168,640. The marijuana was seized and the five suspected smugglers were transported to the Wellton Station and processed for prosecution.


The Border Patrol utilizes a multi-layered enforcement approach to prevent potential threats from entering the interior of the country while identifying vulnerabilities at the immediate border. Since October 1, 2008, Border Patrol agents have seized more than 50,000 pounds of marijuana in Yuma Sector.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/11032009_2.xml