1,900 lb of marijuana seized from fake Border Patrol SUVs in Arizona
Federal agents stopped two SUVs painted with fake Border Patrol markings near Palominas, Arizona, before dawn on 19 February 2003 and seized about 1,900 lb (862 kg) of marijuana. One driver, an undocumented Mexican national, was arrested; the other fled.
🇺🇸 Near Palominas, Arizona · Arizona, United States
Border Patrol and Customs agents stopped two sport utility vehicles, a 2000 Dodge Durango and a 2001 Ford Expedition, painted to resemble Border Patrol units with the agency’s logos and painted-on government plates, before dawn near Palominas, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson.[1][2]Inside, agents found large bundles holding about 1,900 pounds (about 862 kg) of marijuana.[1][2]
Agents arrested the driver of one vehicle, an undocumented Mexican national held in federal custody pending prosecution on drug smuggling charges, while the second driver fled.[1][2]Officials said it was the first time traffickers had been caught using fake government vehicles, and presented the joint operation as a preview of cooperation under the new Department of Homeland Security.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
CNN places the interception near Paominas and Reuters near Palominas, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson; this report uses Palominas.
No court outcome for the arrested driver was reported in the opened sources.
A Border Patrol handout photograph of one SUV was syndicated through picture agencies, but no direct image address could be recovered from an opened page.
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