Border Patrol Seizes more than $720,000 in Narcotics

Border Patrol Seizes more than $720,000 in Narcotics

Details

Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 12:41

Written by Border Scope

Yuma, Arizona - U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector’s Wellton and Blythe Stations seized approximately 532 pounds of abandoned marijuana, 2.6 pounds of heroin, and 12 pounds of methamphetamines in three incidents during the Memorial Day weekend.

Agents assigned to Wellton Station located six makeshift backpacks of marijuana in the desert while patrolling near theMohawkMountains. The marijuana weighed approximately 246 pounds and had an estimated value of $197,280.

On Memorial Day, agents assigned toCampGrip, Yuma Sector’s forward operating base, located five makeshift backpacks of marijuana in the desert while patrolling in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. The marijuana, weighing slightly more than 285 pounds, was valued at roughly $142,800.

In both incidents, the marijuana was seized for destruction per Yuma Sector policy.

In another Memorial Day seizure, Blythe Station agents working with a canine detected hidden narcotics in the front bumper area of a Mazda 626 during a checkpoint inspection. A non-intrusive x-ray of the Mazda revealed an anomaly that turned out to be approximately 2.6 pounds of heroin, worth an estimated $84,660, and 12 pounds of methamphetamines valued at more than $295,700. The driver, vehicle and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Yuma Sector effectively combats smuggling organizations attempting to transport contraband through southwesternArizona. As a result, the probabilities of arrest and associated penalties cause smugglers to often abandon their drug loads rather than risk apprehension and prosecution.

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