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Press Release - Customs and Border Protection
Nogales Agents Come Under Fire
1135 Pounds of Marijuana Seized11.12.04
Tucson, AZ -- On November 11, 2004, agents assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station disrupted drug smugglers as they attempt to drive two drug filled trucks across the international border.
At approximately 12:00 p.m., a Border Patrol Agent observed two trucks drive north through the desert across the border near the Buena Vista Ranch, east of Nogales. As the two trucks traveled north away from the border, a third truck joined them. The third truck was being utilized as a scout (lookout) by the drug smugglers.
Agents responded to the area and observed all three trucks turn around and flee south toward Mexico. As the three trucks made their way at a fast rate of speed around the mountainous terrain, one of them became disabled and was abandoned. The other two trucks fled back into Mexico.
Inside the abandoned truck, agents discovered 62 bundles of marijuana. As agents further inspected the truck, smugglers hiding in the mountains fired approximately 12 shots from a small caliber rifle in their direction. Agents took cover, but did not return fire. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Blackhawk helicopter was immediately dispatched to the area to assist with the apprehension of any smugglers in the area. The area was thoroughly searched, but no smugglers were located. There were no agents injured during the incident.
The marijuana, worth $908,000, was remanded to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The abandoned truck, a Ford F-150 truck, had been reported stolen from Chandler, Arizona, and was released to the Santa Cruz Sheriff,s Office for disposition.
Within the last 43 days, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol has seized 47,557 pounds of marijuana worth over $38,045,600.
The Border Patrol is a division of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for managing and securing our nation,s borders.
SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS
~CBP~
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