Good weekend: Agents seize 3.25 tons of pot

Green Valley News

Border Patrol agents seized more than 6,500 pounds of marijuana over the weekend in six incidents.

Details from the two largest seizures:

On Saturday, agents from the Nogales Station operating the checkpoint on Interstate 19 were conducting primary inspections when a service canine alerted them to the presence of contraband near a panel truck. The truck was referred for a secondary inspection that revealed 101 bundles of marijuana. The marijuana weighed 2301 pounds with a street value of more than $1.8 million. The driver was arrested.

Sunday evening, agents were working south of Arivaca, when they saw a vehicle traveling off-road with its lights off. When the driver noticed the Border Patrol units, he attempted to flee. The agents were able to deploy a Controlled Tire Deflation Device and stopped the vehicle without incident. An inspection of the vehicle revealed 106 bundles of marijuana with a weight of 2,382 pounds and an approximate street value of $1.9 million. Also found in the vehicle was a loaded 9mm handgun. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Tucson and was turned over to Tucson Police Department. The weapon was turned over to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the marijuana was turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration.