ARIZONA SEES LARGE RISE IN MARIJUANA SEIZURES

TUCSON, Ariz. -- In a year of ongoing drought, grass has been greener
in Arizona -- for law enforcement agencies.

They're having a bountiful year harvesting marijuana loads from
smugglers.

According to a program that coordinates drug control efforts, there
has been a 25 percent jump in the number of reported pot seizures in
the state from Oct. 1 through April 30 over the same period a year
earlier.

In fact, pot seizures are up across the Southwest so far this fiscal
year, except in New Mexico. Seizures in West and South Texas have shot
up by 54 percent and have increased 14 percent in California.

"We've added quite a few agents, we've increased our technology and
added eyes and ears due to the National Guard's presence" on the
border, said Gustavo Soto, spokesman for the patrol's Tucson sector,
which covers all the Arizona-Mexico border except an area around Yuma.

Though apprehensions of illegal immigrants have decreased because of
more deterrence, narcotics smugglers aren't as easily deterred, Mr.
Soto said.

"They're more intent on bringing in their illicit cargo. We're just
having more and more success."