Nogales, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents utilizing Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana yesterday at the Interstate 19 checkpoint.
Border Patrol agents referred a semi-truck passing through the checkpoint to secondary inspection after observing several inconsistencies. The NII system led agents to discover several bundles of marijuana with an approximate street value of $430,000. The driver, marijuana and vehicle were taken to the Nogales station for processing.
The Border Patrol continues to use technology along the border and at checkpoints to effectively guard our nation. Seizures such as this show the effectiveness of checkpoints and the critical role they play in the Border Patrol's defense-in-depth strategy. From Oct. 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol seized almost 800,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $638 million.