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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Tucson, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents from the Ajo Border Patrol recovered a stolen vehicle and seized 1,203 pounds of marijuana on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation near Pia Oik, Ariz., last night.

On May 22, Border Patrol Agents acting on an intelligence report conducted an extensive search for a vehicle containing narcotics in the Pia Oik area. This search revealed a Chevy Avalanche parked in a remote area, concealed with a green tarp. The agents discovered numerous bundles packaged in cellophane and tape, containing marijuana. Registration checks on the vehicle determined the Chevy had been reported stolen out of San Diego.

The vehicle was turned over to the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the marijuana will be turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration.

The 1,203 pounds of marijuana was valued at approximately $962,400. As of April 30, the Tucson Sector has seized over 566,700 pounds of marijuana for this fiscal year. This is a 42 percent increase for the same time period last year.

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.