April 27, 2007

ICE agents seize more than 2 1/2 tons of marijuana on Tohono O'odham Nation

TUCSON, Ariz. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seized more than 2 1/2 tons of marijuana yesterday out of the back of two abandoned pick up trucks found in a remote section of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Members of ICE's "Shadow Wolves" located the 5,145-pound load of marijuana after spotting vehicle tracks leading off of federal Route 1. Agents followed the tracks for more than one mile through the desert before discovering the two pick up trucks concealed by brush and tarps.

"This is another example of how the Shadow Wolves tracking skills play a valuable role in combating illegal activity along our border," said Alonzo Peña, special agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona. "In this case, the agents' efforts prevented millions of dollars of marijuana from reaching our streets."

The marijuana, which was packed in bales, was transported to ICE's office in Sells, Ariz. ICE agents estimate the seized marijuana has a street value of more than $2 million. No one was found in the vicinity of the vehicles, but ICE's investigation is ongoing.

So far this fiscal year, the Shadow Wolves' efforts have led to the seizure of about 40,000 pounds of marijuana.

The Shadow Wolves are an ICE tactical patrol unit based on the Tohono O'odham Native American Nation in southern Arizona. Agents in the unit are known for using traditional Native American tracking techniques to pinpoint drug and alien smuggling activity.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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