BP seizes $1.7M worth of pot in West Desert
More than 3,400 lbs of marijuana, stolen truck found
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 3,400 pounds of marijuana worth $1.7 million in three incidents in the West Desert on Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
All-Terrain Unit agents from the Ajo Station were tracking a group of suspected illegal immigrants and found a bundle of marijuana concealed under rocks. Agents discovered 24 additional bundles after searching the area. The marijuana weighed 1,036 pounds and is worth $518,000, the Border Patrol said.
In another incident, Ajo Station ATU agents found 11 bundles of marijuana abandoned in a wash. The drugs weighed 535 pounds and are worth $267,500, the Border Patrol said.
Also on Thursday, the West Desert Task Force — made up of federal, state and local law enforcement officers — and CBP’s Office of Air and Marine responded to suspected drug-smuggling and found an abandoned bundle of marijuana, the Border Patrol said.
During a search of the area, officers found a stolen pickup with 79 bundles of marijuana inside. The Department of Public Safety took custody of the truck and marijuana, which weighed 1,864 pounds and is worth $932,000, the Border Patrol said.
The marijuana seized in the three incidents was to be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Border Patrol said.
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