Border Patrol agents have busy day at two area checkpoints

Border Patrol agents seized over 70 pounds of marijuana and arrested two individuals with outstanding warrants in five separate incidents at Yuma sector checkpoints on Friday.

"Both of these checkpoints are staffed by Blythe agents and augmented by canine agents from the Yuma sector," said agent Laura Boston, spokesperson for the Yuma sector. "These two checkpoints are also on the two main highways heading north to leave the Yuma area."

According to Boston, at about 7:30 a.m., agents working at an immigration checkpoint located on Highway 95 near Quartzsite conducted an inspection on a silver Chevrolet Silverado.

During the inspection of the vehicle, 70 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $56,000 dollars were discovered hidden within the vehicle.

"The marijuana was hidden within the back seat and inside a tire," Boston said.

The driver, a U.S. citizen was arrested and turned over to the Yuma Narcotics Task Force. The task force also took possession of the marijuana and vehicle.

At that same checkpoint at 9:00 p.m., agents detained a U.S. citizen with an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. The suspect was turned over to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

That same day at an immigration checkpoint located on Highway 78 near Palo Verde, Calif., agents seized 6.8 grams of marijuana at approximately 10:30 a.m. A canine alerted agents to the 2002 Dodge pickup driven by a U.S. citizen.

Later in the day at approximately 4:00 p.m., a canine alerted agents to a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe, which was also being driven by a U.S. citizen.

Agents searched the vehicle and found 5.8 grams of marijuana along with 62 prescription pills.

At that same checkpoint at approximately 11:30 a.m., agents encountered a Honduran national with an outstanding warrant for fraud out of Riverside County. The Imperial County Sheriff’s Department took custody of the subject.

"The multiple enforcement actions that took place on Friday are a prime example of the continued vigilance practiced by Border Patrol agents throughout our sector," said Chief Patrol Agent Paul Beeson.

Boston added that canine agents have been cross trained to write citations in cases where small amounts of marijuana are found, as part of Operation Citation.

"They also confiscate the drugs for destruction," Boston said.

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