TUCSON – Casa Grande Border Patrol agents arrested five Honduran nationals Sunday morning, near the village of Vaya Chin on the Tohono O’odham Nation, and seized more than 300 pounds of marijuana worth in excess of $150,000.
The incident occurred in a remote desert area where agents using off-road motorcycles were following footprints along a known smuggling route. Agents followed the footprints to the Sierra Blanca Mountains and came upon 13 bales of marijuana. During a subsequent search of the surrounding area, agents located four men and one male juvenile; all illegally present in the United States.
The bundles of marijuana and the Honduran nationals are being processed per Tucson Sector guidelines.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.
