By KRWG News
Las Cruces – CBP/Border Patrol Agents throughout the El Paso Sector continued their border-wide crusade to rid communities in New Mexico and west Texas of illicit narcotics.
Agents in Lordsburg interrupted the latest attempts to smuggle drugs into the country by seizing more than 525 pounds of marijuana in three separate incidents.
On Tuesday night, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Lordsburg Station utilized the latest enforcement technology to observe three individuals walking north of Portal, Arizona. As agents responded to the area, they came upon four abandoned burlap backpacks full of narcotics. The total weight of marijuana was approximately 337 pounds, and valued at more than $269,000. The smugglers who carried the burlap sacks apparently absconded back into Mexico. This seizure was followed by a second incident involving two smugglers trying to smuggle 89 pounds of marijuana near Playas, New Mexico. The value of that load is approximately $71,200.
Agents from Deming made the third significant seizure in NM after they came upon two abandoned burlap sacks containing approximately 100 pounds of marijuana. The estimated value of that load is $80,000.
The total amount of marijuana seized by agents from the Lordsburg Station and Deming Station was approximately 525 pounds, valued at over $420,200.
Agents from the El Paso Station were also busy intercepting drug loads in their respective areas. Agents found an abandoned bundle of marijuana near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry containing 26 pounds near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. It is valued at over $20,800.
In each case, the contraband was turned over to the appropriate investigating agency for final disposition.To date, in fiscal year 2010 (through February), El Paso Sector agents have seized over $34 million dollars in narcotics.