Border patrol chase yields $500k worth of marijuana

DAVID L. TEIBEL
Published: 06.15.2006

U.S. Border Patrol agents came under fire twice, returning fire once, Wednesday night while trying to capture suspected marijuana smugglers who later abandoned more than a half million dollars worth of marijuana.

No border patrol agents were hit by the gunfire, said Senior Patrol Agent Sean King, a border patrol spokesman here.

The shootings started after a border camera monitor spotted a Mercedes Benz SUV at 7:05 p.m. heading north from the border along a dirt road near the KS Ranch, about six miles southeast of Nogales and about a half mile north of the border, King said.

Six agents were sent to the area to investigate and as they got there the Mercedes driver sped away.

The agents chased the vehicle and someone in the SUV fired at least several shots at the lead border patrol truck, hitting the windshield and radiator, King said, adding agents returned fire with pistols and rifles. Agents did not know if they hit any of the suspects, King added.

Three men abandoned the SUV and fled toward Mexico.

Agents found 694 pounds of bundled marijuana in the abandoned SUV, King said. He said the marijuana has a street retail value of $555,560.