LORDSBURG, New Mexico – Border Patrol Agents, with assistance from El Paso Air and Marine Operations, seized over 200 pounds of marijuana and apprehended four suspected narcotic couriers over the weekend.
On Saturday, agents from the Lordsburg Station were patrolling near Playas, New Mexico when they discovered numerous sets of footprints leading north from the U.S./Mexico border. Agent persistence paid a dividend five hours later when they came upon four burlap backpacks poorly hidden in the desert. Air and Marine Air Interdiction Agents, along with a Border Patrol All-Terrain Vehicle unit, joined Agents on the ground in locating suspected smugglers who abandoned their backpacks once they realized they were being trailed. All of the subjects were questioned and admitted to being in the country illegally. The subjects and marijuana found in the packs were transported to the Lordsburg Station for further processing.
The total weight of the seized marijuana is 200.15 pounds, with an estimated street value of $160,000. The contraband and the subjects were transferred over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for prosecution.
Once again, this incident demonstrates how vigilance by U.S. Border Patrol Agents and the ability to effectively work with other agencies is combating the entry of illicit contraband into our communities, and helping keep our nation’s borders safe.