Border Patrol Seizes Marijuana Valued at More than $147,000
CALEXICO – Three men were arrested over the weekend at the Calexico Border Patrol Station when they attempted to smuggle 184.2 pounds of marijuana into the United States by crossing on foot.
The suspects entered the US just East of the Calexico border crossing station
On Sunday evening at approximately 7:51 p.m., a Border Patrol agent noted five men illegally entering the United States from Mexico, east of the Calexico Port of Entry, on foot. Four of the men had suspicious large bundles strapped to their backs, and together they walked north toward Interstate 8.
Agents observed them while the men reached the highway, and were immediately met at Interstate 8 by a Plymouth Voyager. At this time the men were seen unloading their bundles into the vehicle. After depositing the packs they carried, two of the men climbed into the vehicle while the remaining individuals ran back for the border, escaping back into Mexico.
The Plymouth drove away from the pickup point, but its escape was thwarted when it drove directly into a tire deflation device that had been deployed by agents. Once the vehicle was disabled, the agents who were positioned nearby were able to safely approach the suspects. The driver was a male United States citizen and the two male passengers were both citizens of Mexico. All three were taken into custody at this time.
184.2 pounds of marijuana was seized in the arrests
When Border Patrol Agents inspected the Plymouth’s cargo, they discovered that the bundles were a large amount of marijuana. The contraband smuggled in the United States weighed over 184.2 pounds. According to the U.S. Border Patrol this quantity of marijuana has an estimated street value of $147,357. The driver, passengers, vehicle and marijuana were turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff’s office where the investigation into the smuggling is ongoing.
The EL Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign encourages citizens to report any similar incidents of suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at (800) 901-2003.
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examiner.com: USCBP agents arrest three with 184.2 punds of marijuana
