News
Border Patrol seizes 1,500 lbs of pot
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Willcox Border Patrol agents have seized more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana in seven days, officials said.
From Friday, June 12 through Saturday, June 20, agents assigned to the Willcox station were involved in seven different marijuana seizures while out performing their traditional duties, said Spokesman Mario Escalante.
"Improved enforcement, increased manpower and strong partnerships with local law enforcement partners enable the Willcox Station to contribute in the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Defense in Depth Strategy," he said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.
One of the most significant seizures occurred while the agents conducted a vehicle stop on Interstate 10 near Willcox, and discovered 326 pounds of marijuana, Escalante said.
The vehicle was seized and the marijuana turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), he added.
In another significant seizure, a K-9 team discovered 272 pounds of marijuana abandoned in a thicket of mesquite brush while patrolling the desert south of Willcox, said Escalante, adding that this marijuana seizure was turned over to the DEA as well.
"There are several new factors that are being attributed to the increased narcotics seizures and the illegal alien arrests in the Sulphur Springs Valley as well as other portions of the Willcox area of responsibility," said Willcox Patrol-Agent-in Charge Craig Weinbrenner.
"These factors include a continued significant increase in new agents, new technology, and new deployment tactics," he said.
The Willcox station "serves a pivotal role within the Tucson Sector," said Escalante, adding that it "operates as second line of defense in the in-depth enforcement capacity."
"It helps to prevent illegal alien and narcotic smugglers from using south-eastern Arizona's major routes of egress," he said.
"The cycle of organized smuggling is disrupted by the successful operations of Willcox Station agents who are assigned to the only interior station in the Tucson Sectors Eastern Corridor."
From Friday, June 12 through Saturday, June 20, agents assigned to the Willcox station were involved in seven different marijuana seizures while out performing their traditional duties, said Spokesman Mario Escalante.
"Improved enforcement, increased manpower and strong partnerships with local law enforcement partners enable the Willcox Station to contribute in the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Defense in Depth Strategy," he said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.
One of the most significant seizures occurred while the agents conducted a vehicle stop on Interstate 10 near Willcox, and discovered 326 pounds of marijuana, Escalante said.
The vehicle was seized and the marijuana turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), he added.
In another significant seizure, a K-9 team discovered 272 pounds of marijuana abandoned in a thicket of mesquite brush while patrolling the desert south of Willcox, said Escalante, adding that this marijuana seizure was turned over to the DEA as well.
"There are several new factors that are being attributed to the increased narcotics seizures and the illegal alien arrests in the Sulphur Springs Valley as well as other portions of the Willcox area of responsibility," said Willcox Patrol-Agent-in Charge Craig Weinbrenner.
"These factors include a continued significant increase in new agents, new technology, and new deployment tactics," he said.
The Willcox station "serves a pivotal role within the Tucson Sector," said Escalante, adding that it "operates as second line of defense in the in-depth enforcement capacity."
"It helps to prevent illegal alien and narcotic smugglers from using south-eastern Arizona's major routes of egress," he said.
"The cycle of organized smuggling is disrupted by the successful operations of Willcox Station agents who are assigned to the only interior station in the Tucson Sectors Eastern Corridor."
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