Yuma Border Patrol seizes 371 pounds of marijuana

U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector's Wellton Station recovered 371 pounds of marijuana late Friday while patrolling in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

Agent Kyle Estes of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office said during their patrol, agents found footprints crossing the United States/Mexico border and followed the tracks to a stash of eight backpack-style bundles of marijuana.

“Agents came across three sets of footprints, and as they followed the prints they came upon the stash of eight bundles. From what it looked like, (the smugglers) were carrying the bundles to be picked up later.”

Estes explained the reason agents believe the bundles were being stashed at that location is because the three smugglers whose footprints agents had been tracking could not have carried all eight of the bundles found there.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $185,500.

Yuma County residents can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.

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.