WASHINGTON: Agents assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station seized nearly 600 pounds of marijuana and arrested the driver after he jumped out of the rolling vehicle in an attempt to flee on Thursday evening. The incident occurred on the east side of Nogales when an agent attempted to pull over the driver of a 2001 Isuzu Trooper who was suspected of loading multiple packages of marijuana into the vehicle. The driver initially stopped, but as the agent approached the vehicle, the driver sped away in an attempt to flee.
Approximately 200 feet from the initial stop, the driver jumped out from the moving vehicle, leaving the vehicle to roll uncontrollably for about 100 feet. The vehicle ultimately stopped after colliding with brush near the side of the road without causing damage to nearby property. The driver fled on foot into the Santa Cruz River, but was apprehended without further incident after a short foot pursuit. As agents inspected the vehicle, they discovered 12 packages of suspected marijuana. The driver and the packages were transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station for processing. The total weight of the marijuana was 585 pounds. The driver, a juvenile Mexican national, was presented for immigration and narcotics charges as per Tucson Sector Guidelines. Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life. 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.
