Press Release - Tucson Sector PIO
Posted by AP December 15, 2005
December 15, 2005
Contact: San Diego Sector Public Information Office
(619) 216-4182 -- www.cbp.gov
CBP Border Patrol Seizes Another Ton And A Half Of Marijuana Over The Past Week
San Diego, Calif. -- Over the past week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents of the San Diego Sector have seized approximately 3,074 pounds of marijuana. These seizures follow a combined 2,900 pounds of marijuana seized December 2, 2005.
The largest seizure happened this past Sunday, December 11, when agents assigned to the Campo station observed two pickup trucks, driving in tandem, that appeared to have people concealed beneath blankets in the rear of the truck. Agents observed the vehicles until they parked at the Golden Acorn Casino and the occupants went inside. The agents approached the vehicle and saw several bundles of what appeared to be marijuana. The agent called for the assistance of a Border Patrol K-9, who sniffed the exterior and confirmed the agent's suspicion. Agents recovered 360 bundles of marijuana from the two vehicles weighing approximately 1,290 pounds. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took custody of three subjects and the narcotics.
On December 13, Campo agents received a citizen's tip that a vehicle possibly loaded with narcotics was driving away from the border. An agent in the area spotted the vehicle and ran the vehicle's license plate. The license plate did not belong to the vehicle. The agent also noticed several objects concealed under a blanket in the rear of the vehicle. Based on this information, the agent performed a vehicle stop on Crestwood Road, approximately one mile north of Interstate-8. When the agent approached the vehicle, he immediately noticed several bundles concealed under a blanket and smelled the strong odor of marijuana. The agent called for additional agents, including an agency K-9. After searching the vehicle with the K-9, agents seized 60 packages of marijuana, weighing approximately 751 pounds. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took custody of two subjects, the narcotics, and the vehicle.
On December 8, Campo agents observed a group of suspected illegal aliens through an infrared scope who appeared to be carrying large backpacks. When agents arrived in the area, they found where the group had crossed the border and followed their footprints in the dirt to two abandoned trucks. Inside the truck, agents saw several bundles of marijuana. Agents seized a total of 41 bundles weighing a total of 510 pounds. The DEA took custody of the marijuana. In two separate incidents on December 9, Campo agents seized a total of 278 pounds of marijuana after following the footprints of suspected illegal aliens. On December 14, agents seized 245 pounds of marijuana after searching for a group of illegal aliens spotted by a thermal imaging scope. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took custody of the narcotics.
