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CBP Land and Air Assets Collaborate to Seize Smuggled Drugs

Release Date
Fri, 09/24/2010

Tucson, Ariz. - While conducting air operations in the West Desert Thursday, Air Interdiction agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine assisted CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents with the seizure of more than 715 pounds of marijuana. The contraband is worth approximately $574,000.

The OAM crew spotted 41 bundles of marijuana in the desert and relayed the location to Border Patrol agents on the ground. Agents seized and transported the bundles to the Ajo Border Patrol station for processing.

The Tucson sector Border Patrol deploys a variety of resources and tools to detect illegal activity and keep our country safe. OAM acts as a force multiplier for the Border Patrol by assisting its enforcement efforts from the skies.

From Oct. 1, 2009, to Aug. 31, 2010, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol seized more than 943,000 pounds of marijuana valued in excess of $754 million.

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