Press Release – San Diego Sector Public Information Officer
Posted by AP April 14, 2007

San Diego CBP Border Patrol seizes three million dollars worth of marijuana in brazen smuggling attempt

Agents interdict four-vehicle narcotics convoy after drive-though of the International Boundary near Tecate, California

April 13, 2007

Chula Vista, Calif. — At 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning, CBP Border Patrol seized four Sport Utility Vehicles containing 4,042 lbs. of marijuana worth more than $3,000,000 and arrested one driver. A Border Patrol agent working in an area near Tecate, CA observed a four-vehicle caravan covered in dust, driving on State Route 94. The agent linked the convoy to a gate that had been forced open near the International Boundary.

After stopping the last vehicle of the convoy and finding numerous marijuana bundles inside the vehicle, the agent arrested the driver. The three other vehicles continued west on SR-94 towards San Diego. Multiple agents, as well as a CBP Air helicopter, continued observation of the caravan. One of the three SUV drivers pulled off the highway and stopped in a trailer park near Barrett Lake and absconded from the scene. Agents later seized the vehicle and other marijuana bundles found inside.

The final two SUVs made an abrupt U-turn near Dulzura and returned eastbound on SR-94 towards the Tecate Port of Entry. In Tecate, the two SUVs split up, one driving west and the other vehicle driving east along the border fence, where the drivers then both abandoned their vehicles and jumped over the fence into Mexico. Border Patrol agents near that area of the International Boundary responded to the scene and discovered numerous other bundles of marijuana in the two abandoned vehicles. The Mexican citizen driver of the initial vehicle was turned over to Operation Alliance, a collaborative multi-agency anti-drug taskforce.

The Border Patrol continues ensuring the safety and security of our nation,s border by preventing dangerous people and dangerous drugs from entering our country. The San Diego Sector Border Patrol has seized 18,705 lbs. of marijuana since October 1, 2007, a 34% decline from year-to-date Fiscal Year 2006 seizures.

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