December 1, 2004
Border Patrol K-9 Drug Seizure -- K-9 program
proves to be huge asset to agents
Tucson, AZ -- Yesterday, a Border Patrol K-9 Unit assigned to the Sonoita Station patrolling the Coronado National Forest seized over 1,500 pounds of marijuana.
At approximately 5:00 p.m., a Border Patrol agent and his K-9 were conducting routine checks of "staging" areas frequented by alien and drug smugglers when the K-9 "alerted" to concealed person(s) or contraband in a oak thicket high on a ridge. "Staging" areas are places where alien and drug smugglers hide their groups or contraband in the field while awaiting transportation.
When the agent and his K-9 searched the oak thicket, they uncovered 65 bundles of marijuana hidden beneath rocks, dirt, tree limbs and grass. No drug smugglers were apprehended since it was evident that the marijuana had been there for some time.
The marijuana, which had a total weight of 1556 pounds and a value of $1.2 million, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
During the month of November, the Border Patrol Tucson Sector K-9 program has been responsible for some very significant and usual drug seizures. These include 995 pounds of marijuana hidden in a hollowed out stack of plywood and 79 pounds of cocaine hidden in a vehicle's radio speaker box. The total amount of marijuana seized by the entire Tucson Sector for the month of November is 45,252 pounds with a value of $32.6 million dollars. The total since the beginning of the fiscal year is 76,659 pounds of marijuana worth $61.3 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.
~CBP~
