TUSCON, AZ – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents remained vigilant during the Thanksgiving holiday as evidenced by the seizure of nearly $500,000 in illegal drugs.
The first seizure occurred Nov. 26 in Nogales, Ariz., when agents noticed a suspicious Nissan sedan west of the Mariposa Port of Entry. The same vehicle was discovered a few minutes later abandoned with four double bundles of marijuana in the trunk. The seizure was valued at more than $90,000. Agents conducted an extensive search of the area but failed to locate the driver.
The following day, agents assigned to the West Desert Task Force seized 32 abandoned bundles of marijuana weighing 682 pounds near mile marker 157 on Interstate 8. Agents discovered the narcotics after following ATV tracks to a wash. An extensive search of the area did not yield any subjects or vehicles associated with the marijuana.
On Thanksgiving Day, Tucson Sector agents confiscated more than $38,000 worth of methamphetamine at the Interstate 19 checkpoint. An individual traveling through the checkpoint attempted to conceal the narcotics inside two duct-taped tubes on his left upper thigh area. The subject is being presented for prosecution.
All drugs and vehicles were processed for seizure in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.
