An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. 12 Smugglers Caught in Arizona Desert Hauling $625k in Pot

12 Smugglers Caught in Arizona Desert Hauling $625k in Pot

Release Date
Thu, 01/17/2013

TUCSON, ARIZ.—A dozen drug smugglers carrying 1,250 pounds of marijuana were arrested Tuesday night by Ajo Station Border Patrol agents patrolling near Pia Oik, Ariz.

After identifying what appeared to be a group of smugglers carrying marijuana bundles, agents obtained aerial support from an Office of Air and Marine helicopter and apprehended 11 adults and one juvenile. The marijuana, worth an estimated $625,000, was turned over to the DEA. The smugglers face federal prosecution for narcotics smuggling.

Through multi-agency cooperation, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol continues to make significant progress in disrupting and denying criminal organizations the opportunity to operate along the Sonora/Arizona border.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling (877) 872-7435 toll free.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021