Agents seize $356,550 worth of drugs
U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector's Wellton Station seized cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana that had a combined value of $356,550 during two separate weekend incidents.
According to the Yuma Sector Public Affairs office, agents working Sunday at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 near mile marker 78 referred a white Chevrolet truck to secondary inspection after a canine alert.
After receiving consent, agents searched the vehicle and found 14 packages of cocaine, which weighed 33 pounds, and one package of methamphetamine, weighing more than one pound, hidden inside the vehicle's front and back seats.
The narcotics, which had a combined value of $317,500, the vehicle and suspect — a U.S. citizen — were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On Saturday, agents on routine patrol about 12 miles south of Gila Bend on Saturday night detected the footprints of two people walking through the desert.
Agents tracking the footprints apprehended two suspected drug smugglers carrying approximately 77 pounds of marijuana. The drugs are worth an estimated $39,000.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.
