Drug haul: 5 tons worth $7 million

Green Valley News

Border Patrol agents siezed nearly five tons of marijuana worth more than $7 million in several busts since Friday.

Late Sunday, a Border Patrol Air and Marine helicopter spotted two vehicles traveling north from the International Boundary Fence after the drivers apparently used ramps to get over the barrier, a Border Patrol spokesman said.

Agents on the ground intercepted two pickups; a third was discovered by using an infrared scope just north of the same location. A total of 502 bundles of marijuana weighing 6,792 pounds were seized from the three vehicles with an estimate value of $5,433,600.

Mexican authorities seized a vehicle with ramps on the south side of the International Boundary Fence.

Later Sunday, agents assigned to the Casa Grande ATV unit discovered tire signs traveling off a main road into the desert, according to the Border Patrol. Agents followed found an abandoned Dodge pickup packed with 70 bundles of marijuana weighing 1,757 pounds with an estimated value of $1,405,600. The vehicle had been reported stolen in Mexico.

On Friday night, agents from the Casa Grande Station using an infrared scope found several people making their way north from the international boundary. As agents moved in, all of the suspected immigrants dropped what they were carrying and ran back into Mexico.

Agents found 15 bundles of marijuana weighing 804 pounds with an approximate street value of $643,200.