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  4. Quarter Million Dollars of Marijuana Seized, 3 Arrested in Arizona Desert

Quarter Million Dollars of Marijuana Seized, 3 Arrested in Arizona Desert

Release Date
Tue, 09/07/2010

Wellton, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents arrested three drug smugglers and seized more than a quarter million dollars worth of marijuana in the Arizona desert east of Yuma on Friday.

At about 5 p.m., a CBP Office of Air and Marine helicopter pilot alerted Border Patrol agents assigned to Camp Grip that he had spotted a group of illegal aliens about five miles north of the border west of the Lukeville, Ariz., port of entry.

The pilot guided agents on the ground to the group's location and Border Patrol agents arrested three suspected smugglers and seized a total of seven makeshift backpacks filled with bundles of marijuana.

The marijuana had a total weight of 320 pounds with an estimated street value of $256,000. Agents transported the suspected smugglers and contraband to the Wellton Border Patrol Station for processing.

Camp Grip is the Yuma sector's tactically deployed forward operating base designed to maintain control of the seam between the Tucson and Yuma sectors. Smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband operating in this area will be detected, tracked and arrested.

To report suspicious activity, contact the Yuma Sector Border Patrol's toll free telephone number at (1-866) 999-8727.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021