Douglas, Ariz. - The Douglas Police Department and Cochise County Sheriff's office, both Operation Stonegarden partners, assisted U.S. Border Patrol agents Tuesday with the seizure of 220 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $176,000.
A concerned citizen reported seeing three individuals loading a vehicle with suspicious bundles. A CBP Office of Air and Marine aircraft assisted in locating the vehicle and directed Border Patrol agents on the ground to its location.
When the suspect vehicle fled from Border Patrol agents, deputies from CCSO deployed a controlled tire deflation device bringing the suspect car to a safe stop. DPD officers also arrived to the scene and assisted with the arrest of the driver and passenger. Inside the vehicle, agents found three bundles of marijuana. The vehicle, marijuana and occupants were taken to the Douglas Border Patrol station for processing.
"The excellent partnership that exists between law enforcement in southeastern Arizona is only furthering our collective effort to make our communities safer," said Patrol Agent in Charge Tim Sullivan.
Operation Stonegarden is a Department of Homeland Security initiative that fosters close coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies working to mitigate border issues. Cooperative efforts like the one mentioned above is evidence that fostering these relationships is beneficial.
From Oct. 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol seized more than 867,500 pounds of marijuana exceeding $694 million in value.