TUCSON – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Nogales and Casa Grande stations seized more than 670 pounds of marijuana, worth in excess of $336,000, and arrested two Honduran nationals during separate weekend incidents near the Arizona communities of Nogales and Vamori.
Casa Grande agents working on dirt bikes Saturday morning responded to a report of smugglers near Vamori. While tracking the group, agents encountered two Honduran nationals with more than 432 pounds of marijuana, worth in excess of $216,000. Agents searched the area but did not locate additional smugglers.
Agents working west of Nogales on Saturday evening responded to two incidents a few hours apart resulting in two marijuana seizures with a combined weight of almost 240 pounds. In the first incident, agents responding to a sensor activation encountered multiple individuals carrying large backpacks of suspected marijuana. When the smugglers saw the agents, they dropped their packs and ran south to Mexico. A similar scenario played out a few hours later and further west of Nogales. The two seizures have a combined value exceeding $120,000.
Agents transported the marijuana and two Honduran nationals to their respective stations for processing in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines. The suspected smugglers face federal charges for smuggling a controlled substance and immigration violations.
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 or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.
