December 20, 2004
Big pot haul on Tohono O'odham Nation
The Tohono O'odham Reservation village
of Hickiwan is the scene for a large marijuana seizure on
Sunday. Customs Patrol Officers tracked three stolen vehicles
to a location 5 miles north of SR86 (mp82), early Sunday afternoon.
CBP/CPO's located an area where suspected smugglers attempted
to brush-out tire tracks. The location is within 200-300 yards
of the El Paso Natural Gas Pipe Line. There, along with air support
based in Tucson, a Ford Expedition, a Chevy Suburban and a Dodge
Truck were covered by tarps in an effort to conceal the location.
Bundles of marijuana were found inside two of the vehicles, while
two female suspects were located inside the third. While vehicles
were turned over to the Tohono O'odham Police, the suspects have
been turned over to Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
The 3224.45 lbs. of marijuana, valued at nearly 2.6 million dollars,
have been turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
US BORDER PATROL
TUCSON SECTOR PIO
1970 W AJO WAY
TUCSON, AZ 85713
520-670-6871
