Agents seize 878 pounds of marijuana

Yuma Sun
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Dec 1, 2005

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized 878 pounds of marijuana Thursday morning in the remote desert east of Yuma County. Agents also intercepted three other vehicles that had illegally crossed into the United States in different areas, according to a Border Patrol release.

Agents from the Yuma sector apprehended the vehicle smuggling marijuana after it crossed the border near Camp Grip, a remote Border Patrol facility used to patrol the desolate areas of the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge.

"Camp Grip is on the far eastern end of the Yuma sector area of operation," said Yuma sector Border Patrol spokesman Michael Gramley. "It's manned by Yuma and Tucson sector personnel."

The two occupants of the vehicle were able to escape capture on foot. Inside the vehicle, agents found the marijuana, which has a street value of approximately $700,000, and an empty case for night vision equipment.

The drugs and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Gramley said.

Since Oct. 1, 11,010 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $8.8 million dollars have been apprehended by Yuma sector agents, Gramley said.

Also Thursday morning, agents from the Wellton station apprehended a Chevrolet Tahoe that had illegally driven into the United States about 20 miles east of the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz. Twelve illegal aliens from Mexico were apprehended.

A short time later, 12 more illegal aliens from Mexico were apprehended after Wellton station agents stopped a Ford F-150 that had crossed the border south of Sentinel.

Just after nightfall Wednesday, a full-size Ford van was seen by Border Patrol surveillance cameras crossing the border at the Colorado River about four miles west of Yuma. When agents came upon the van, two occupants fled toward Mexico.
Eight illegal aliens from Mexico were apprehended from the van.

Those three illegal alien smuggling vehicles were seized by Border Patrol, Gramley said.

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