December 28, 2001

Rocky Mountain News

Federal agents patrolling the banks of the Rio Grande have intercepted a shipment of more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

U.S.  Border Patrol agents, working in conjunction with the U.S.  Customs Service, spotted people Thursday loading bundles of marijuana onto a pickup truck that had been backed up near a river pump.

As the agents approached the vehicle, the suspects jumped into the river and swam to Mexico.  No arrests were made.

Agents seized 49 bundles of marijuana valued at $808,000.

The drugs and the vehicle were turned over to the Customs Service in Falcon Heights.