YUMA, AZ - U.S. Border Patrol agents in Yuma reportedly detected an illegal ultralight aircraft invasion early Tuesday, October 6th, turning suspected drug smugglers back to Mexico along with their contraband.
Ultralight aircraft use started off as a recreational activity in the late 1970s, and became a method of smuggling by drug trafficking organizations in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In the late 1990s, improved detection and interception capabilities caused ultralights to become all but abandoned.
Just after midnight, an agent assigned to the Yuma Border Patrol Station reportedly spotted the ultralight while working near San Luis, Arizona.
The agent apparently monitored the ultralight as it flew into the United States, dropped several bundles, then turned around and flew back into Mexico.
With the support of Office of Air and Marine pilots, agents located a white Ford F-150 truck fleeing the area where the objects were dropped.
The driver of the truck was able to make it back into Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry, but was apprehended a short time later by Mexican authorities.
Mexico reported that they arrested the driver and seized the F-150 along with eight plastic-wrapped bundles of suspected narcotics weighing about 176 pounds.
