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 700 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $557,000 Wednesday during a narcotics smuggling attempt about a half mile from the international border.

Agents spotted two vehicles, a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee and an older Ford sedan, stuck in the dirt at County 15th Street, between the Colorado River and the Arizona Levee west of Yuma about 9 p.m. When agents approached, five individuals abandoned the vehicles and fled into Mexico.

Upon closer inspection of the vehicles, agents noticed that the roof, windows and window panels were cut from the sedan, enabling the smugglers to circumvent anti-vehicle measures by driving the vehicle under security gates on the Salinity Canal. Seizing the vehicle marks a significant success for agents, who have been looking for the specially modified vehicle.

“Our success through Operation Jump Start is having an impact on smugglers’ ability to continue their criminal activities,” said Yuma Sector’s Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeff Calhoon. “As we continue to increase our manpower, in addition to adding tactical infrastructure and leveraging new technology, our efforts will further impede criminal activities in the area making Yuma and its border areas safer for everybody.”

The vehicles and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

During the first half of fiscal year 2007, Yuma Sector agents have seized more than 22,000 pounds of marijuana valued at an estimated $17.7 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.