Tucson-area Border Patrol agents seized more than 4,700 pounds of marijuana valued at about $2.3 million earlier this week from three vehicles, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The marijuana was seized in two separate incidents on July 24.
In the first incident, Ajo Station agents spotted suspicious activity near State Route 85 south of Why, Ariz. Agents discovered two pickup trucks loaded with 207 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 4,400 pounds. Both vehicles had been reported stolen, and were turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The marijuana was valued at more than $2.2 million, and will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to the agency.
Later that evening, agents using thermal imaging technology observed a group of suspected drug smugglers loading marijuana into a vehicle northwest of Douglas, Ariz. When agents activated their emergency lights to attempt an interdiction, the vehicle fled the scene. The Douglas Police Department led a pursuit.
Eventually, two subjects were seen exiting the vehicle. One was quickly apprehended, and the other is believed to have fled into Mexico. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered seven bundles of marijuana weighing 326 pounds with an estimated value of $163,000.
