U.S. Border Patrol agents seized over 820 pounds of marijuana and arrested 11 illegal aliens in a remote, mountainous canyon southeast of Arivaca, Arizona Wednesday afternoon August 21.
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents were alerted to a group wearing camouflage and carrying bundles of marijuana in the mountains west of Nogales. Assisted by an Air and Marine Operations helicopter, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents located and arrested 11 men. Agents discovered 36 bundles of marijuana hidden nearby, weighing approximately 820 pounds.
The Honduran, Guatamalan, and Mexican nationals, ranging in age from 15 to 38 years old, are facing federal immigration and drug smuggling charges.
Records checks revealed that a 25-year-old Guatamalan in the group, Mario Felipe-Perez, has an active warrant in Marion County, Oregon, for burglary, domestic violence assault, and contempt of court. The warrant issuing agency was notified Perez was in federal custody, and he is awaiting extradition to Marion County.
