62 illegal entrants found in Rio Rico; 4 tons of pot are seized separately

By Dale Quinn

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

U.S. Border Patrol agents raided a Rio Rico drop house Thursday and detained 62 illegal entrants.

And in separate incidents since Wednesday evening, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector seized more than 4 tons of marijuana, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release.

The drop-house raid began when agents stopped a vehicle near Rio Rico, about 60 miles south of Tucson, a press release said.

Five illegal entrants were arrested, and when agents questioned the smuggler, they learned about a large number of illegal border crossers at a nearby house. Agents went to the residence and a man let them in, the release said.

Sixty-two illegal entrants were found in the two-bedroom residence, which was described in the press release as unhealthy and unsafe.

All 62 were determined to be Mexican citizens in the United States illegally. Four of the entrants will be held on human-smuggling charges, according to the release.

The drug seizures started Wednesday evening when agents found an abandoned vehicle north of the village of Kaka in the Tohono O'odham Nation, according to a press release. The sport utility vehicle was partially covered with loose brush, and agents found 104 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 2,200 pounds inside.