Border Patrol agents seize pot near Andrade

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents came across a disabled smuggling vehicle loaded with 100 bundles of marijuana in the Imperial Sand Dunes Saturday afternoon.

The seizure came after agents, while out on routine patrol duties in the Imperial Sand Dunes west of Andrade, observed a group of quads to the south.

As agents made their way toward the group, they came across a white Ford F-250 pickup stuck in the sand. Upon closer inspection, agents noticed the truck contained 100 bundles of marijuana.

The total weight of the marijuana was 1,916 pounds, with an estimated street value of $1.5 million.

Tracks around the vehicle indicated that the group of quads the agents had observed earlier had actually been escorting the truck out of Mexico when it became disabled in the sand.

"Agents actually interrupted the smugglers. As soon as the came up on the truck, they saw tracks leading out of Mexico," Patterson said. "They were trying to dig the truck out of the sand as the agents rolled up."

Those same quads returned to Mexico shortly after agents arrived on the scene.

"(Smugglers) will do a lot of different things out there with quads," said Border Patrol agent Andrew Patterson. "(Smugglers) are trying to blend in by giving the appearance that they are recreating."

A records checks on the pickup revealed it had been reported stolen out of Calexico on Dec. 11.

The stolen pickup was originally listed as a black Ford F-350. However, it had been painted white and the F-350 insignia was changed to an F-250 insignia in an effort to disguise the vehicle.

Border Patrol agents were able to free the stuck vehicle and drive it away from the area. The vehicle and marijuana were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

So far this fiscal year, Yuma Sector agents have seized more than $6 million in illegal drugs.

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James Gilbert can be reached at

jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.