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Press Release - Tucson Sector PIO
November 16, 2004U.S. Border Patrol Finds Marijuana hidden in Plywood Compartment
Tucson, AZ -- On November 15, 2004, agents assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station arrested a drug smuggler from Mexico transporting marijuana in a hidden compartment.
At approximately 9:10 a.m., a Border Patrol Agent observed a white Ford F-150 driving north from the border near the Buena Vista Ranch, east of Nogales. As the Ford pick-up drove past the agent, he observed that it was loaded with an inordinately large amount of plywood sheets. The Ford pick-up was stopped near Kino Springs.
The agent became more suspicious when the driver's statements were inconsistent and evasive. The agent decided to further inspect the vehicle with the assistance of a Border Patrol K-9 unit. The K-9 conducted a "sniff" of the vehicle and immediately "alerted" to the rear cargo area. A closer examination revealed that the plywood sheets had been hollowed out to create a hidden compartment. The compartment contained numerous bundles of marijuana.
The hidden compartment contained 52 bundles of marijuana weighing 995 pounds. The marijuana is estimated to be worth $796,000. The illegal alien suspect, marijuana and vehicle were released into the custody of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
This is the second attempt by drug smugglers to transport narcotics through this area in the last four days. The first incident occurred on the 11th when agents seized 1135 pounds of marijuana being transported in a stolen Ford F-150 pick-up. During this incident, an unknown gunman hiding in the surrounding hills fired upon agents. No agents were injured.
Since the beginning of the fiscal year (10/01/04), the Tucson Sector has seized over 27 tons of marijuana, worth over $41.8 million.
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 DIGITAL PHOTOS OF HIDDEN COMPARTMENT
~CBP~
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