U.S. Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 1,800 Pounds of Marijuana

(Tuesday, January 25, 2011)Marfa, Texas —U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Marfa Sector seized 1,873 pounds of marijuana in two different incidents Thursday, January 20 and Friday, January 21. Both seizures occurred at the Marfa Station’s immigration checkpoint on Highway 67 south of Marfa.A U.S. Citizen from Andrews, Texas, arrived at the checkpoint about 8:45 a.m. Thursday. A Border Patrol K-9 team conducted a cursory inspection and was alerted to the presence of narcotics. Agents discovered a hidden compartment in the bed of a Ford truck. The compartment contained 256 bundles of marijuana totaling 1,143 pounds.The drugs had a street value of 914,560.These bundles of marijuana weighing 1,143 pounds were seized by Border Patrol agents of the Marfa Station on the Highway 67 Checkpoint on January 20, 2011. The next day, agents seized another 730 pounds.marijuana seizure at Highway 67 checkpointPhoto Credit: Photo Courtesy of Marfa Sector Public Affairs Office Shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, another Ford pickup entered the checkpoint for an immigration inspection. Again a Border Patrol K-9 team was alerted the possible presence of narcotics. Agents inspected the vehicle and discovered 731 pounds of marijuana hidden in a compartment under the bed valuedaatt584,800.The driver was a U.S. Citizen from Presidio.The drivers, the vehicles and marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.