Busts at border net thousands of pounds of pot

TUCSON, AZ - The weekend proved to be very successful for the Tucson Sector Border Patrol, as agents stopped 3,300 pounds of marijuana at checkpoints.

According to a Border Patrol news release, the drugs, valued at $2.6 million, were seized in three separate incidents where vehicles were found trying to drive around checkpoints.

On Friday agents from the Nogales station working around the checkpoint on Interstate 19 noticed a dust cloud on a dirt road near the checkpoint.

Agents followed the dust trail and discovered an abandoned truck with more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana valued at $828,000.

The marijuana and truck were taken to the Nogales station for processing.

The second bust happened on Saturday, as Willcox station agents were working at the checkpoint on Highway 90, and noticed a vehicle driving on a dirt road that circumvented the checkpoint.

Agents responded and located the vehicle abandoned with more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana inside.

The marijuana, valued at more than $1.2 million, was taken to the Willcox station for processing.

On Sunday, agents from the Tucson Station, working near the checkpoint on Highway 86, noticed a vehicle trying to drive around the checkpoint.

Agents approached the vehicle and two people ran from the truck.

Agents found 740 pounds of marijuana valued at $592,000 inside.

The marijuana and truck were taken to the Tucson station for processing.