BP agents seize marijuana, cocaine

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

Agent Shaun Kuzia, a spokesman for the Yuma Sector, said at about 5 p.m. that day, a Customs and Border Protection 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.

“They hadn't made it very far before the helicopter pilot spotted them,” Kuzia said.

Kuzia said the CBP pilot guided agents on the ground to the smugglers' location, where they were caught and arrested. Seven makeshift backpacks filled with bundles of marijuana were seized.

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

Camp Grip is Yuma Sector's tactically deployed forward-operating base designed to maintain control of the seam between the Tucson and Yuma sectors.

Also on Friday, Yuma Sector agents assigned to the Blythe Station seized 31 pounds of cocaine at the U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on Highway 78.

Kuzia said that at about 3 p.m., a 1999 Dodge Dakota with two occupants entered the checkpoint's primary inspection area. As Blythe agents spoke with the driver and passenger, a Border Patrol canine team alerted to the vehicle, indicating the likely presence of hidden persons or narcotics.

Agents referred the pickup for secondary inspection, where they discovered 13 plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine stacked inside a hidden compartment behind the vehicle's firewall.

The bundles of cocaine had a total weight of 31 pounds with an estimated street value of $1 million.

Kuzia said agents arrested the driver and passenger, both 24-year-old U.S. citizens, who were later turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the cocaine and vehicle.

This is the third cocaine seizure in less than a week at the Highway 78 checkpoint. Last week, agents seized a total 75 pounds of cocaine and four pounds of methamphetamine in two separate incidents.

Yuma Sector agents have seized more than 408 pounds of cocaine this fiscal year, which has less than a month remaining. The amount of seized cocaine is valued at more than $12 million. Also more than 35,000 pounds of marijuana has been seized, which is down significantly compared to last year.

Kuzia said unless there are more large seizures this year, there will be a huge drop-off in the amount of marijuana seized this fiscal year.

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

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.