By KRWG News
Las Cruces – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Santa Teresa Station seized over 232 pounds of marijuana in duffle bags from a Nissan Altima that was loaded near mile marker 124 on New Mexico Highway 9.
At approximately 9:45 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2010, as agents were following several footprints leading north from the U.S./Mexico Border they observed several individuals loading what seemed to be several backpacks into a vehicle on Highway 9. Agents in the area were advised of the situation and responded quickly.
Moments later, agents attempted to perform a vehicle stop on the Nissan Altima, but the vehicle refused to stop and attempted to evade Border Patrol agents.
Agents then deployed a controlled tire deflation device which caused both front tires to deflate and forced the driver to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. As the vehicle came to a stop the driver of the vehicle then jumped out of the car and fled on foot into the desert attempting to abscond back into Mexico.
The agents initiated a systematic search of the area and were able to arrest the driver of the vehicle. The driver was identified as a 25-year old Mexican citizen.
Inside the car, agents discovered nine duffel bags of marijuana, weighing approximately 232 pounds and valued at more than $185,600.00. The marijuana and the driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration in Las Cruces, N.M. for prosecution.
The U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso Sector has seized over 42,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 10 (through the end of February), valued at over $34 million.