see also: in April 2006 News Releases:   CBP Officers Seize Thousands of Dollars from Sentri Participant   CBP Nabs Murder Suspects at Two Different Port of Entries   Border Patrol’s BORSTAR Team Saving Lives   CBP Officers Seize Over Three Tons of Marijuana at Calexico Ports   CBP Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Wanted Fugitive Featured on America’s Most Wanted   Homeland Security Officials Unveil Latest Radiation Technology to Secure our Nation's Seaports   Rising Temperatures in South Texas Prompt Rescue Efforts ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Yuma, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized 2,752 pounds of marijuana in two separate seizures over the weekend.

Friday evening, at 9 p.m., CBP Border Patrol agents observed a pick-up truck illegally enter the United States by crossing the Colorado River in the vicinity of County 17th Road. Agents responded to the area to interdict the vehicle. Upon seeing the agents, the driver of the vehicle abandoned the pick-up and absconded back into Mexico.

As the agents approached the vehicle, they found that the bed of the pick-up was loaded with marijuana bundles. The marijuana weighed 1,655 pounds and has an estimated street value of over $1.3 million.

Monday morning, at 7 a.m., in a separate incident, CBP Air pilots observed a pick-up truck illegally enter the United States by crossing the Colorado River in the vicinity of County 13th Road. The vehicle had apparently become disabled when the driver attempted to return to Mexico. CBP Air pilots advised Border Patrol agents who responded to the scene.

As the agents approached the abandoned vehicle, they found that the bed of the pick-up and the passenger compartment were loaded with marijuana bundles. The marijuana weighed 1,097 pounds and has an estimated street value of $877,616. The vehicle had been reported stolen on April 9, 2006 in Yuma, Arizona.

In both instances the vehicles and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since the beginning of this fiscal year, CBP Border Patrol agents in the Yuma Sector have seized more than 27,000 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $22 million.

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.