Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2007
Source: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ)
Copyright: 2007 Arizona Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

BODY FOUND; 2,798 POUNDS OF POT SEIZED

A large drug seizure in Green Valley and the discovery of a body 
believed to be an illegal border crosser in Cochise County marked a 
busy early week for the Border Patrol.

On Tuesday, a ranch owner near Skeleton Ranch about 30 miles east of 
Douglas called authorities after a worker on the ranch discovered a 
man's body, said Gustavo Soto, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman. 
The agency didn't know his name or age.

Through the end of March, the latest figures available, the agency 
has reported 49 border deaths in the Tucson Sector, down slightly 
from the 55 at the same time last year, figures show.

On Monday, Border Patrol agents found nearly 2,800 pounds of 
marijuana inside a van in Green Valley. A helicopter spotted two 
vehicles that appeared to be preparing to load illegal entrants. When 
agents arrived at West Continental Road and South Camino de Sol, they 
found the van and a white pickup truck, Soto said.

Agents arrested two Mexican citizens, ages 24 and 25, Soto said. Both 
vehicles were reported stolen.

The 2,798 pounds has an estimated value of $2.798 million, according 
to figures from the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Through the end of March, agents in the Tucson Sector had seized 
498,815 pounds of marijuana, a 38 percent increase from the same time last year.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman