Posted by AP May 19, 2005
U.S. Border Patrol seized 1935.85 pounds of marijuana
Tucson, AZ - May 18 - Yesterday, agents at the Casa Grande Border Patrol station discovered over 800 pounds of marijuana near San Miguel, Arizona, on the Tohono O'ohdam Indian Reservation, while agents from the Tucson Station recovered over 1,000 pounds from a vehicle near Highway 286 and Arivaca Rd. At about 9:00 a.m., the Casa Grande agents discovered several empty burlap sacks in a wash typical of those used by drug smugglers to backpack drugs across the border. The agents searched the surrounding area and, between two abandoned vehicles, found 11 bundles of marijuana. No subjects or other vehicles were located in the area. The marijuana totaled 844.3 lbs and is estimated to be worth $675,440,00. The agents turned the marijuana over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
On the same day, at about 8:15 p.m., agents from the Tucson station observed a suspicious Dodge Durango traveling northbound on Highway 286 near Arivaca Rd. When the agents attempted to perform a vehicle stop, the driver of the Durango refused to yield. Other assisting agents deployed a Tire Deflation Device (TDD) in front of the vehicle that caused the two front tires to deflate at a safe rate of speed. Shortly thereafter, the driver drove the vehicle off the roadway and fled the seen.
The agents, along with a K-9 unit, searched the vehicle and discovered 59 bundles of marijuana weighing 1091.55 pounds. The driver was not located. The drugs are estimated to be worth $873,240.00.
This fiscal year, Tucson Sector Border Patrol has seized 312,816 pounds of marijuana
