Cannon used to fire marijuana into U.S.

Photo: US Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Border Patrol agents said drug smugglers used a pneumatic-powered cannon to fire cans filled with marijuana into the United States.

Investigators report that the smugglers crossed the Colorado River and entered a strip of U.S. territory on the Mexican side of the border fence. Armed with a pneumatic cannon, then used a carbon dioxide canister to fire the marijuana over the canal and border fence into a field about 500 feet over the border.

“By actually shooting it over the fence, they don’t have to worry about mules or smugglers actually backpacking it across,” said Kyle Estes, Yuma Sector Border Patrol public affairs officer.

However, before smugglers could collect the drugs, a concerned citizen discovered the what appeared to be soup cans inside of larger cans and sealed on the ends in the field and contacted the Border Patrol. Agents responded to the report and conducted an extensive search and found 33 cans of marijuana with a net weight of 85 pounds and recovered a carbon dioxide tank used to power the air cannon.

The marijuana is valued at $42,500 and is scheduled for destruction.

Border Patrol and Mexican authorities continue working together to investigate the incident.

Photo: US Customs and Border Protection

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