Tucson, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector seized more than 17,600 pounds of marijuana this week, with a total estimated value of more than $14 million.
Agents working in the Western Corridor of the Tucson Sector are credited with seizing the bulk of marijuana - more than 12,000 pounds.
Highlights of this week's seizures include more than 1,600 pounds of marijuana confiscated after agents assigned to the Ajo Station, using night-vision goggles, spotted an SUV driving in the desert Monday night without lights. The occupants of the vehicle fled into the desert, and agents found 77 bundles of marijuana valued at more than $1.3 million.
Wednesday, Ajo agents were following tire tracks and discovered an abandoned vehicle containing another 1,600 pounds of marijuana.
Combining technology, and time proven skills, like tracking, and specialty units such as Horse Patrol, agents continue to make advancements in gaining operational control of our nation's borders.
In the first four months of fiscal year 2010, agents have seized more than 350,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $287 million; 9,000 thousand pounds more than the same time frame last year. These amounts have set the Tucson Sector on course to break last year's record-breaking seizure of 1.2 million pounds of marijuana.