BLM News Release - Major Dunes Drug Smuggling Bust

[Jerry Seaver]

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
News Release


For Immediate Release: April 17, 2007 CA-CDD-07-29
Contact: Stephen Razo 951-697-5217; email: srazo@ca.blm.gov


Suspects Arrested in Major Dunes Drug Smuggling Bust

Five suspects were arrested at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) on Saturday, April 14, after Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement officials discovered 1,820 lbs of marijuana inside two motorhomes camped in the south dunes area.

El Centro BLM Field Office rangers received a tip that individuals were observed loading large bundles of suspected marijuana into a motorhome within the Midway Campground area of the Dunes. Upon investigation at the scene, 1,616 pounds of bundled processed marijuana along with methamphetamine smoking pipes were uncovered in one motorhome while a second motorhome contained another 203 pounds of processed marijuana.

The suspects were taken into custody at the scene and later booked into the Imperial County jail for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Law enforcement officials placed the estimated street value of the marijuana at approximately $910,200.00.



-BLM-