1,000 pounds of marijuana seized near Colorado River

Border agents in Yuma seized nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana during a smuggling attempt Thursday, according to a release.

At 10 p.m., remote video surveillance system camera operators in the Yuma sector communications center alerted agents that several individuals were removing rock along the Colorado River levee near County 11th Street.

While U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma sector were responding, camera operators observed three people walk to the base of a camera pole in the area. Immediately after, the cameras went dead.

A National Guard Entry Identification Team notified agents that a vehicle was spotted moving eastbound from the river, and the agents moved to intercept the vehicle.

The vehicle turned around and tried to return to Mexico via the same route it entered, but the driver was unable to locate the area from which the rock was removed. As agents approached, the vehicle's driver and passengers fled on foot across the river and into Mexico.

A search of the vehicle revealed 42 bundles of marijuana worth an estimated $792,000. The vehicle and drugs were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

A check of the camera pole revealed that the system had been tampered with, rendering it inoperable. It was repaired immediately and placed back in service.