see also: in April 2008:   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $1.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes   Border Patrol Launches Rhode Island Search   Border Patrol Agent Search Launches in Atlanta   Two Weeks = Two Tons of Marijuana Seized at Arizona Port of Entry   CBP Officers in Texas Find $3 Million Worth of Dope in 'Empty' Sea Container   New Jersey CBP Officers Make $4 Million Heroin Candy Bar Bust   Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Tucson, Ariz. — Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande and Douglas Border Patrol stations successfully seized more than 1,700 pounds of marijuana in two separate incidents on Wednesday.

While patrolling in a remote area early Wednesday morning, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Casa Grande Arizona Border Patrol station performed a vehicle stop on a suspicious vehicle. Initially the driver refused to stop, but subsequently abandoned the vehicle and absconded into the desert. A search of the vehicle yielded ninety-nine bundles of marijuana weighing nearly 1,130 pounds with an estimated street value of $904,000.00.

In another incident, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Douglas Border Patrol station observed a vehicle traveling north from the international boundary in an area commonly used by human and narcotics smugglers. The driver refused to stop the vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Phoenix, Ariz. Border Patrol agents deployed a tire deflation device and successfully disabled the vehicle. Two individuals exited the vehicle and were able to abscond into Mexico. Border Patrol agents discovered several bundles of marijuana weighing more than 590 pounds with an estimated street value of $472,000.00.

In both cases the vehicles and marijuana seized were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.