September 25, 2007    Arivaca, Arizona
Border Patrol agents find more than 2,503 pounds of marijuana in an abandoned stolen vehicle

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector seized more than 2,500 pounds of marijuana and recovered a stolen vehicle at the same time.

On September 25, 2007, while performing routine patrols near Arivaca, AZ, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Tucson station, observed a vehicle traveling north on Penny Lane. The agent noticed that the truck didn't have any working tail-lights, and attempted to follow it in order to obtain a closer inspection. The vehicle, however, seeing the Border Patrol agent, took off a high rate of speed. With the assistance of additional agents in the area, the truck was soon located. The driver had abandoned it in a nearby field after crashing through a fence. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered more than 113 bundles of marijuana.

The truck was found to have been reported stolen from Phoenix, Ariz., and was turned over to the Tucson Police Department. The 113 bundles found in the rear of the vehicle came to a total weight of 2,503.25 pounds, with an estimated value of $2,002,600.00. The marijuana was remanded to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Source: US Customs/Border Patrol