Tucson, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than 4,300 pounds of marijuana in the last two days and assisted the Douglas Police Department in seizing another 300 pounds Monday.
Highlights of the last two days include an 850 pound marijuana seizure by Nogales station agents on temporary duty at a forward operating base and a 1,300 pound marijuana seizure by Casa Grande station agents resulting from a traffic stop.
Monday afternoon, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Douglas station reported a vehicle suspected of carrying marijuana to an Operation Stonegarden partner, the Douglas Police Department. Douglas officers located the vehicle and discovered 300 pounds of marijuana inside. The marijuana has an approximate value of $240,000.
The Border Patrol has been effective at deploying the proper mix of infrastructure, technology and personnel along the border to curb the flow of contraband into the United States.
Operation Stonegarden is a Department of Homeland Security initiative that fosters closer coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies working to mitigate border issues.
During the first four months of this fiscal year (October through January), agents have seized more than 350,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $287 million. During the same time frame last year the Tucson Sector Border Patrol seized 341,000 pounds of marijuana.