NOVEMBER 21, 2003 San Diego, California
Almost 5 tons of marijuana seized in Southern Arizona
Almost 5 tons of marijuana seized in Southern Arizona
Law enforcement officers from the Department of Homeland Security
teamed up yesterday to seize nearly ten thousand pounds of
marijuana in southern Arizona. The marijuana was discovered by
agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.
S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in four vehicles in two
separate locations, 80 miles apart.
The incident began at around 5:00 a.m. Thursday when an ICE
Blackhawk helicopter observed two four-door pickup trucks hidden
beneath tarps in the vicinity of Menager’s Dam on the Tohono O’
odham Reservation about twelve miles east of the Lukeville Port of
Entry. Landing immediately, the Blackhawk deployed an
apprehension team which captured one suspect and recovered a
9mm semi-automatic handgun.
Responding to the air unit, Special Agents from ICE and CBP took
custody of the suspect and secured the two vehicles. Agents
searched the two pickup trucks with camper shells and discovered
approximately 2,200 pounds of marijuana in marijuana in one and
more than 2,700 pounds in the other. The suspect was later
identified as Jose Luis Perez-Lopez, a 28- year old Mexican national
who remains in ICE custody pending the filing of formal charges.
After further investigation, agents determined that at least two
additional vehicles had recently passed through the area. Aided by
the ICE Blackhawk, the agents resumed their search for additional
vehicles south of Stanfield. Subsequently, the agents located two
more pickup trucks with camper shells near Cockleburr,
approximately eighty miles north of Menager’s Dam. One of these
vehicles contained almost 2,100 pounds of marijuana, the other
2,500 pounds. No additional suspects were found at the second
scene. Agents believe the vehicles may have been dropped there
for later transport by smugglers.
teamed up yesterday to seize nearly ten thousand pounds of
marijuana in southern Arizona. The marijuana was discovered by
agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.
S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in four vehicles in two
separate locations, 80 miles apart.
The incident began at around 5:00 a.m. Thursday when an ICE
Blackhawk helicopter observed two four-door pickup trucks hidden
beneath tarps in the vicinity of Menager’s Dam on the Tohono O’
odham Reservation about twelve miles east of the Lukeville Port of
Entry. Landing immediately, the Blackhawk deployed an
apprehension team which captured one suspect and recovered a
9mm semi-automatic handgun.
Responding to the air unit, Special Agents from ICE and CBP took
custody of the suspect and secured the two vehicles. Agents
searched the two pickup trucks with camper shells and discovered
approximately 2,200 pounds of marijuana in marijuana in one and
more than 2,700 pounds in the other. The suspect was later
identified as Jose Luis Perez-Lopez, a 28- year old Mexican national
who remains in ICE custody pending the filing of formal charges.
After further investigation, agents determined that at least two
additional vehicles had recently passed through the area. Aided by
the ICE Blackhawk, the agents resumed their search for additional
vehicles south of Stanfield. Subsequently, the agents located two
more pickup trucks with camper shells near Cockleburr,
approximately eighty miles north of Menager’s Dam. One of these
vehicles contained almost 2,100 pounds of marijuana, the other
2,500 pounds. No additional suspects were found at the second
scene. Agents believe the vehicles may have been dropped there
for later transport by smugglers.
Source: ICE
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NARCOTIC NEWS
Marijuana News Archive 2003
Marijuana News Archive 2003