More than 4 tons of marijuana seized in DHS enforcement action outside Douglas

DOUGLAS, Ariz. — An enforcement action outside Douglas Monday involving multiple Department of Homeland Security agencies resulted in the seizure of more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of four suspects on federal drug trafficking charges.

The interdiction began after Border Patrol agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) attempted to stop three vehicles suspected of transporting contraband near State Route 80 shortly before 7:00am. Monday. Two of the drivers abandoned their vehicles and jumped into the third vehicle, which sped away. At that point, the Border Patrol agents requested assistance from CBP Air and Marine Operations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 

“As a component of CBP, the U.S. Border Patrol takes a whole-of-government approach in securing our nation’s border,” said Manuel Padilla, Jr., chief patrol agent for the Tucson Border Patrol Sector. “This seizure is a clear example of a collaborative enforcement effort between multiple agencies.”

While the federal agents pursued the vehicles on the ground, a crew aboard an AMO aircraft relayed information from overhead about the suspects’ movements. After stopping the vehicles and securing them, investigators conducted a search and discovered multiple bundles of marijuana inside. The bundles of contraband, totaling 8,278 pounds, have an estimated street value of $4.1 million.

“This is a good example of how the integration concept serves Customs and Border Protection and, more importantly, the public,” said Mitch Pribble, Tucson air branch director. 

The suspects are currently in federal custody pending their arraignment. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.