Border Patrol agents seize nearly 1 ton of marijuana

Thursday, August 30, 2007

(08-30) 11:45 PDT BARRETT JUNCTION, Calif. (AP) --

Seven rookie Border Patrol agents seized nearly a ton of marijuana from three vehicles abandoned near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The agents, who graduated earlier this month from the Border Patrol academy, spotted two sport utility vehicles and a pickup truck early Wednesday heading north from the border near the Tecate crossing, about 40 miles east of San Diego.

Other Border Patrol agents in the area were called to join in pursuit of the caravan, which turned back toward Mexico, an agency spokesman said. The drivers left the vehicles and ran across the border.

Agents seized 1,967 pounds of marijuana, a stolen Toyota T100 pickup, a Jeep Cherokee and an Isuzu Trooper.

No arrests were made.