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  4. Border Patrol Agents Seize Load of Marijuana Near Nogales

Border Patrol Agents Seize Load of Marijuana Near Nogales

Release Date
Tue, 06/27/2017

TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Nogales Station seized more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana, worth in excess of half a million dollars, abandoned in a cargo van when two men fled on foot in an attempt to avoid apprehension.

Agents discovered more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana inside of a cargo van after the driver and passenger attempted to flee on foot
Agents discovered more than 1,000
pounds of marijuana inside of a cargo
van after the driver and passenger
attempted to flee on foot

The incident occurred when agents patrolling Highway 82 spotted a suspicious Ford panel van as it headed east from Nogales. The vehicle then stopped at an intersection where the driver and a passenger exited, fleeing on foot.

The two occupants, both adult U.S. citizens, were apprehended a short distance from the van. When agents looked inside the van, they discovered dozens of large marijuana bundles in the cargo area.

Agents arrested both men and seized the vehicle and marijuana. During processing at the Nogales Border Patrol Station, agents determined the drugs had a combined weight of more than 1,100 pounds; valued at almost $600,000. Both men will be presented for prosecution on federal drug smuggling charges and will remain in custody pending a disposition.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021