see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Tucson, Ariz. — Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 1,600 pounds of marijuana during a vehicle stop near the village of Queens Well on the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Yesterday evening, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station encountered a blue Chevrolet Suburban traveling northbound on a dirt road northeast of Queens Well. The driver of the vehicle immediately drove the vehicle off road into the desert where he came to a stop and fled on foot. As the agents approached the vehicle, they could see bundles of marijuana littered throughout the vehicle. A complete search of the vehicle yielded 71 bundles. Agents conducted an extensive search of the area but were unable to locate the driver.

The marijuana was transported to the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station for further processing and will be turned over to Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since October 1, 2007, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol has seized over 669,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $535.8 million dollars.

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.