Feds in Arizona haul in 96 pounds of marijuana launched over border fence
Aug 25, 2017, 12:04 PM | Updated: 2:19 pm
(U.S. Customs and Border Protection File Photo)
(U.S. Customs and Border Protection File Photo)
PHOENIX — Federal agents in southern Arizona watched a huge bundle fly across the border fence and discovered it was 96 pounds of marijuana this week.
Border officers at the Douglas Station said they saw a large object shoot over the fence from the Mexico side Wednesday while they were checking surveillance monitors.
(U.S. Customs and Border Protection Photo)
Agents were dispatched to H Avenue and First Street in Douglas and found nearly 100 pounds of marijuana wrapped up in plastic and waiting for pick-up, but no suspects.
Spokeswoman Stephanie Dixon said drug smugglers are increasingly launching massive bundles of pot over the border fence, posing a danger to nearby residents and businesses because of their weight.
She said she knew of one incident in which a bundle went through the roof of a dog house.
Dixon said she didn’t have handy the number of such cases over the last few years.
“Not only is it illegal activity but it’s extremely dangerous to the public,” she said.
It’s unclear what smugglers used to launch this particular package, but in the past they’ve used home-made catapults and air cannons.
Sending a bundle that heavy over a fence that stands between 18 and 23 feet high (5 to 7 meters) would require a powerful launcher. Dixon said agents can sometimes hear the packages being launched.
Smugglers have been known to launch large packages of drugs across the border using catapults and air cannons.
The haul was valued at $48,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
