Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Yuma, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents assigned to Wellton Station, Yuma Sector, seized 68 bundles of marijuana Monday in a smuggling load valued at more than $1 million.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents located a black Chevrolet Tahoe in a remote desert area about 25 miles southeast of Tacna, Ariz. This vehicle was determined to have been traveling in tandem with another vehicle, a Chevrolet Avalanche.

Border Patrol agents were following both vehicles traveling north on a dirt road from the U.S./Mexican International Boundary. The suspects driving the Chevrolet Avalanche were apprehended first, after which Border Patrol agents continued to search for the Chevrolet Tahoe, which was reported stolen out of San Diego, Calif.

The Tahoe was eventually located about a half mile south of where the first vehicle was apprehended. Agents found the Tahoe wrapped with a beige-colored vehicle cover that was used to conceal it in the desert surroundings. While agents were removing the cover they discovered that the vehicle contained 68 bundles of marijuana, weighing approximate 1,255 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $1 million.

The agents also found two sets of footprints heading in a northeastern direction. The Border Patrol is currently searching for the missing suspects of the Tahoe.