Tucson Sector Border Patrol arrested two motorists for narcotic smuggling at the State Route 85 checkpoint near Why, Arizona. Both subjects were U.S. citizens and the seizure was valued at approximately $63,000.
Saturday morning at approximately 10 a.m., Ajo Station agents encountered a white Saturn sedan with two occupants at the State Route 85 checkpoint. As agents began to conduct the immigration inspection, the driver and passenger refused to answer any immigration questions. The passengers quickly became uncooperative and very argumentative, according to agents, a tactic commonly used by smugglers at checkpoints.
The vehicle was directed to the secondary area for further inspection. A canine unit conducted a free air search of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert near the trunk of the sedan. A search was conducted which yielded six bundles of marijuana, weighing more than 126 pounds, in the trunk.
Both subjects are being presented for prosecution. The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.