December 6, 2004
CBP Border Patrol Intercepts Over 18,000 Pounds of Marijuana In A Four-Day Period In Arizona and Texas
Over 14.8 Million Dollars worth of Marijuana Taken off the Streets
Washington D.C. - Over the past four days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol seized over $14 million worth of marijuana in thirteen separate law enforcement actions in Arizona and Texas.
"Nine tons of marijuana is significant in such a short period of time," said National Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar. "Each of the seizures represents a victory for public safety and health, and is proof that while our priority mission is keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country, CBP Border Patrol continues to focus on its other important responsibilities. In fact, making the border safe from terrorists is making the border less hospitable to drug traffickers as well."
During the four-day stretch, the McAllen, Texas Border Patrol Sector saw the most activity, with the largest marijuana seizure being recorded at an immigration checkpoint. A tractor-trailer was discovered to contain 229 bundles of marijuana weighing 5,736 pounds with an estimated value of over $4.5 million. The contraband was mixed with boxes of produce bound for Atlanta, Georgia.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
