see also: in May 2007 News Releases:   Agriculture Inspection, User Fee Requirements Begin June 1 for Commercial Trucks, Railroad Cars Entering U.S. From Canada   Customs and Border Protection starts 2007 Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act Cycle   New Mexico Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $1.5 Million in Marijuana   Suspected Child Molester, FBI Top 10 Fugitive Turned Over to Buffalo Customs and Border Protection   Jayson P. Ahern Announced as Next CBP Deputy Commissioner   CBP Border Patrol Continues Recruiting With Help of Car #28   Electronic Manifest Filing Now Mandatory in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Yuma, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Yuma Sector seized nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana during a smuggling attempt Thursday.

At 10 p.m. remote video surveillance system camera operators working in the Yuma sector communications center alerted agents that several individuals were removing rock located along the Colorado River Levee. While agents were responding to the area, camera operators observed three individuals walk to the base of a camera pole in the area. Immediately after, the cameras went dead.

A National Guard Entry Identification Team notified agents that a vehicle was spotted moving eastbound from the river, and the agents moved to intercept the vehicle. The vehicle turned around and attempted to return to Mexico via the same route it entered, but the driver was unable to locate the area from which the rock was removed. As agents approached, the vehicle’s driver and passengers fled on foot across the river and into Mexico.

A search of the vehicle revealed 42 bundles of marijuana worth an estimated $792,000. The vehicle and drugs were turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

A check of the camera pole revealed the individuals had tampered with the system, rendering it inoperable. It was repaired immediately and placed back in service.

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.