see also: in June 2005 Press Releases:   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trains Dogs to Detect Drugs and Humans   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize 132 Pounds of Cocaine, 134 Pounds of Heroin in Coffee Cans   CBP Border Patrol Arrests Murder Suspect Using Anti-Terror Technology   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes Thousands of Illegal Fireworks   CBP Officers Find Marijuana After Sentri Participant Absconds from Car   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize 261 Pounds Of Ecstasy   United States' Schmitz is Elected to Director at the World Customs Organization ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Campo, CA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents seized 1,651 pounds of marijuana in four separate seizures over the weekend in Campo, California. The first of three checkpoint seizures came last Friday night by agents manning the westbound I-8 checkpoint. The driver’s nervousness and inconsistent answers to routine questions led to a closer examination of the vehicle. While in the secondary inspection area, agents asked the driver for consent to inspect the trunk. The driver consented. After opening the trunk, agents found several packages of marijuana. Agents seized a total of 256 pounds with an approximate value of $205,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took custody of the driver and the marijuana.

The second seizure occurred early Saturday morning when agents from the Campo Border Patrol station responded to a sensor activation east of the Tecate, California port of entry. After following footprints in the dirt for about a mile, agents discovered four large duffle bags full of marijuana abandoned in the brush. Agents seized a total of 246 pounds with an approximate value of $197,320. No subjects were arrested.

Later that evening, agents working the westbound I-8 checkpoint seized two large marijuana loads from two consecutive vehicles. A Dodge Ram pick-up truck and a Ford F-150 pick-up truck, both with similar “snug top” covers, approached the checkpoint together. After questioning the drivers of both vehicles, the agent sent both vehicles to the secondary inspection area. Agents asked both drivers for consent to look under the trucks’ cover. Each driver consented. Under each truck’s cover, agents discovered numerous bundles of marijuana. From the two trucks, agents seized 1,149 pounds of marijuana with an approximate value of $919,560. The DEA took custody of the drivers, the vehicles, and the marijuana.

The San Diego Sector Border Patrol has seized over 15,400 pounds of marijuana and other drugs for an approximate value of over $13,500,000 for the fiscal year 2005.

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.