June 22, 10

NEWS / Technology, Canines Continue to Prove Effectiveness

Tucson, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande and Nogales stations combined the use of technology and canines over the weekend to seize more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana in three separate incidents. The combined estimated value of the marijuana exceeds $1 million.

On Saturday, Nogales agents at the Interstate 19 checkpoint referred a vehicle to secondary inspection. In secondary, agents using a Non-Intrusive Inspection system noticed anomalies in the vehicle, which turned out to be 50 pounds of marijuana, valued at $40,000. The marijuana, car and driver were taken to the Nogales station for processing.

In a separate incident Friday at the checkpoint, a Border Patrol canine team assisted in the discovery of 350 pounds of marijuana inside a hidden compartment of a trailer. The marijuana, truck and driver were taken to the Nogales station for processing.

“These seizures at the checkpoint highlight the success of our defense in depth strategy,” said Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Michael Hyatt. “We constantly look at how we can continue to improve operations and deter smuggling activities.”

Casa Grande agents, using a Mobile Surveillance System. spotted a group of 15 suspected illegal aliens Saturday in the West Desert. Agents responded but the subjects absconded, dropping backpacks that contained marijuana. Agents recovered the marijuana, which weighed more than 800 pounds and was valued at approximately $690,000.

The Border Patrol continues to combine the use of technology and specialty units, such as canine teams, along the border and at checkpoints to effectively guard our nation. The defense-in-depth concept continues to be effective at curbing the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Agents diligently monitor known smuggling routes through the use of checkpoints in order to protect our communities from all threats, including illegal drugs.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/06212010_4.xml