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COAST GUARD, BORDER PATROL SEIZE 63 LBS of MARIJUANA
ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. - Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay, working in conjunction with the U.S. Border Patrol, seized 63 pounds of marijuana Monday around 7:30 p.m. at the Leo Swamp Road Landing in Hogansburg.
This seizure is a result of an on-going joint operation, coordinating U.S. and Canadian efforts along the international maritime border to detect, intercept and deter illegal activity.

The chase ensued on the St. Regis River when the suspect vessel entered U.S. waters after leaving a place known to be a pick-up spot for illegal narcotics. After reaching the Leo Swamp Road landing, two of the four suspects fled on foot and were chased by a Border Patrol agent. Coast Guard boarding officers detained the remaining two suspects.

"This operation was an excellent example of the effectiveness of the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET). Department of Homeland Security agencies, Coast Guard and Border Patrol, working together, were successful in stopping this delivery. It would not have been as successful without the assistance of the St. Regis Tribal Police, New York State Police or the Drug Enforcement Administration. All of these agencies are working together to protect our borders," said Cdr. Gus Wulfkuhle, Ninth District Coast Guard chief of law enforcement.

The contraband has an estimated street value of $252,000. Also seized was a 20-foot jet boat valued at $16,000.