Sonoita Station Border Patrol agents seized two vehicles, over 700 pounds of marijuana worth nearly $360,000 and arrested three suspected marijuana smugglers on Monday morning.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., agents assigned to the Sonoita Station, in collaboration with an Office of Air and Marine (OAM) helicopter, responded to a report of suspicious activity involving multiple suspected undocumented migrants in the area of Elgin, Arizona. Upon arrival, agents located two pick-up trucks, one of which was filled with over 700 lbs. of marijuana in the backseat, front passenger side and bed of the truck. The suspected smugglers used a black sheet to cover the bundles inside of the vehicle and placed plywood and debris over the marijuana in the bed of the truck in an attempt to hide the drugs.
The air unit was able to guide ground agents to three subjects, one United States citizen and two Mexican nationals, who had attempted to abscond.
All subjects were placed under arrest and will be prosecuted for attempting or conspiring to possess or distribute marijuana. The drugs and vehicles were processed for seizure in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.