see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Video: Yuma 2 Ton Marijuana Load

contacts for this news release

Yuma, Ariz. – In a coordinated effort, United States Border Patrol agents from the Yuma sector spike two vehicles driving through the Colorado River, and seize $2.8 million worth of marijuana.

At about 10:20 p.m., a Yuma sector agent observed three vehicles crossing the Colorado River near County 12th Street. The Colorado River serves as the International Boundary between the United States and Mexico in that area. At the same time, about 10 individuals emerged from the nearby brush, dismantled and moved a vehicle barrier, and cut the lock on a security gate leading to the Levee Road at County 11 ¾. The three vehicles then drove onto the Levee Road with their headlights off, and headed northbound.

Responding Border Patrol agents deployed a Controlled Tire Deflation Device at the intersection of the Levee Road and County 11 1/2 Street, successfully deflating the tires of two of the vehicles. The third vehicle managed to avoid the device. All three vehicles turned around, and attempted to return to Mexico by the same route they entered the U.S., but the two spiked vehicles became stuck in the Colorado River. The third vehicle managed to return to Mexico. The occupants of the two stuck vehicles jumped out and waded across the river into Mexico.

After a comprehensive search of the area, Border Patrol agents retrieved a total of 325 bundles of marijuana from the two vehicles, with a total weight of 3,623 pounds, or 1.8 tons.

One of the vehicles, a 2006 Chevrolet pick-up truck, was reported stolen out of Wellton, Ariz., and was turned over to the Yuma County “Rattler” Task Force. The second vehicle, a 1991 GMC puck-up, was recovered by Mexican police officers. No subjects have been apprehended in conjunction with this incident at the present time.

The marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $2,898,400.00, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

( Video: Yuma 2 Ton Marijuana Load )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.