BP agents make multi-million dollar drug bust
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector seized nearly three million dollars in marijuana after using spike strips to stop two vehicles that were driving through the Colorado River.
"This is one of the single biggest loads in recent history for the Yuma station," said agent Ben Vik, of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office.
On Monday at about 10:20 p.m., an agent from the Yuma sector observed three vehicles crossing the Colorado River near County 12th Street. The Colorado River serves as the International Boundary between the United States and Mexico in that area.
"The attraction in that area is it is very shallow. Also the banks aren't very high," Vik said. "It is a place where they can navigate their vehicles down into the river and cross into the United States."
At the same time, about 10 individuals emerged from the nearby brush, dismantled and moved a vehicle barrier, and cut the lock on a security gate leading to the Levee Road at County 11-3/4 Street.
"This was an orchestrated attempt. These guys really knew what they were doing," Vik said. "It was a planned and concerted effort."
The three vehicles then drove onto the Levee Road with their headlights off, and headed northbound, according to Vik.
Vik said agents responded to the area and were waiting for the vehicles, deploying a spike strip at the intersection of the Levee Road and County 11-1/2 Street, successfully deflating the tires of two of the vehicles.
"The third vehicle realized what was happening and was able to avoid the device," Vik said.
Vik said all three vehicles turned around, and attempted to return to Mexico at the same place they entered the U.S., but the two spiked vehicles became stuck in the Colorado River.
"Because they were spiked, they got stuck when they attempted to drive into the river again," Vik said.
The third vehicle, Vik said, successfully managed to make it back to Mexico. He added the occupants of the two stuck vehicles, once they realized they were stuck, jumped out and waded across the river into Mexico.
Vik said after searching the area, Border Patrol agents retrieved a total of 325 bundles of marijuana from the two vehicles, with a total weight of 3,623 pounds, or 1.8 tons.
One of the vehicles, a 2006 Chevrolet Pickup truck, was reported stolen out of Wellton, Arizona, and was turned over to the Yuma County “Rattler” Task Force, Vik said.
The second vehicle, a 1991 GMC Pickup truck, was recovered by Mexican Police officers. No one was apprehended in conjunction with this incident at the present time.
The marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $2,898,400.00, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/million_...nts_multi.html
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector seized nearly three million dollars in marijuana after using spike strips to stop two vehicles that were driving through the Colorado River.
"This is one of the single biggest loads in recent history for the Yuma station," said agent Ben Vik, of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office.
On Monday at about 10:20 p.m., an agent from the Yuma sector observed three vehicles crossing the Colorado River near County 12th Street. The Colorado River serves as the International Boundary between the United States and Mexico in that area.
"The attraction in that area is it is very shallow. Also the banks aren't very high," Vik said. "It is a place where they can navigate their vehicles down into the river and cross into the United States."
At the same time, about 10 individuals emerged from the nearby brush, dismantled and moved a vehicle barrier, and cut the lock on a security gate leading to the Levee Road at County 11-3/4 Street.
"This was an orchestrated attempt. These guys really knew what they were doing," Vik said. "It was a planned and concerted effort."
The three vehicles then drove onto the Levee Road with their headlights off, and headed northbound, according to Vik.
Vik said agents responded to the area and were waiting for the vehicles, deploying a spike strip at the intersection of the Levee Road and County 11-1/2 Street, successfully deflating the tires of two of the vehicles.
"The third vehicle realized what was happening and was able to avoid the device," Vik said.
Vik said all three vehicles turned around, and attempted to return to Mexico at the same place they entered the U.S., but the two spiked vehicles became stuck in the Colorado River.
"Because they were spiked, they got stuck when they attempted to drive into the river again," Vik said.
The third vehicle, Vik said, successfully managed to make it back to Mexico. He added the occupants of the two stuck vehicles, once they realized they were stuck, jumped out and waded across the river into Mexico.
Vik said after searching the area, Border Patrol agents retrieved a total of 325 bundles of marijuana from the two vehicles, with a total weight of 3,623 pounds, or 1.8 tons.
One of the vehicles, a 2006 Chevrolet Pickup truck, was reported stolen out of Wellton, Arizona, and was turned over to the Yuma County “Rattler” Task Force, Vik said.
The second vehicle, a 1991 GMC Pickup truck, was recovered by Mexican Police officers. No one was apprehended in conjunction with this incident at the present time.
The marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $2,898,400.00, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/million_...nts_multi.html