Office of Air and Marine and U.S. Border Patrol agents worked together last week to stop a vehicle fleeing from a Border Patrol agent in Amado, Arizona, resulting in the arrest of two suspects with more than 143 pounds of marijuana.
Shortly before 7 a.m., a Border Patrol agent attempted to stop a vehicle near Amado but the vehicle fled and entered onto Interstate 19, heading north. Within minutes of a Border Patrol request for air support, OAM’s Tucson Air Branch had multiple aircraft above the suspect vehicle.
Aircrew tracked the vehicle and provided updates on its location as it exited the interstate onto Valencia Road, headed east, and finally stopping near the intersection of Valencia and Missiondale Road.
Border Patrol agents arrested the subjects, a United States citizen and a citizen of Mexico. Records later revealed the driver has an extensive criminal history, including possession with intent to distribute narcotics, flight from law enforcement, and human smuggling.
“This is a good example of how the concept of integration serves CBP and, more importantly, the public,” said Tucson Air Branch Director Mitch Pribble. “Working together, agents from several CBP components did a great job today.”
The seized contraband has a street value of approximately $70,000. Both subjects and the contraband will be processed per Tucson Sector guidelines.