Border Patrol seizes semi-truck with $2.2 million in marijuana

Border Patrol agents from the Tucson Sector conducting checkpoint operations at the State Route 90 checkpoint on Wednesday night near Whetstone, Arizona, seized a semi-truck and livestock trailer containing approximately 4,450 pounds of marijuana valued in excess of $2.2 million.

At approximately 8 p.m., Sonoita Station agents working south of the checkpoint notified Willcox agents working at the checkpoint of a suspicious vehicle traveling northbound toward their location. A tractor-trailer carrying livestock approached the primary inspection area where agents noticed the ventilation holes in the upper compartments of the cattle hauler were plugged. Further inspection led to the discovery of 188 bundles of marijuana and a pistol. The driver was arrested. The marijuana, firearm and tractor-trailer were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Tucson Sector agents have seized in excess of 772,000 pounds of marijuana since the beginning of fiscal year 2014. Agents are fighting the transnational criminal organizations’ attempts to exploit Arizona’s border region.