Seven Mexican nationals’ were arrested after U.S. Border Patrol Agents stop drug smuggling attempts in East San Diego, dismantling the myth that America’s border fence with Mexico is either finished or secure.

Diligent Border Patrol agents arrested seven men in two separate incidents in Campo and they recovered nearly 600 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $349,000.

Border Patrol Agents detected a number of smugglers with large backpacks walking north from the United States/Mexico border through the brush that were headed to a nearby highway.

According to Border Patrol Communications agent Kurtis M. Woods, “Agents responded, intercepted six individuals and discovered six backpacks hidden in the surrounding areas. The backpacks contained 27 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 337 pounds with an estimated street value of $202,000.”

Border Patrol then determined the men were Mexican nationals who illegally crossed into the country once they were taken into custody they were turned over to a multi-agency drug task force.

Woods also reported that another incident occurred when Border Patrol agents working near the international border in Campo observed four more individuals carrying drug-filled backpacks.

“Agents observed the subjects attempting to conceal the backpacks in the surrounding brush. Agents arrived in the area and conducted a search and encountered one male Mexican national and found four large backpacks,” Woods explained.

Border Patrol reported that three additional suspects absconded from the scene and it appeared to agents the drug smugglers were able to escape to Mexico. The recovered backpacks contained 20 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 245 pounds with an estimated street value of $147,000

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Written by Kimberly Dvorak, and published May 18, 2011 at Examiner.com, and submitted to the Federal Observer for republication by the author.

~ The Author ~
Kimberly Dvorak is a freelance writer who resides in San Diego. She has covered local, national and international news stories for more than 15 years. As a National political correspondent, she has lived and covered stories in Africa, Europe, South America and Asia over the past 20 years.