BODY FOUND; 2,798 POUNDS OF POT SEIZED

A large drug seizure in Green Valley and the discovery of a body
believed to be an illegal border crosser in Cochise County marked a
busy early week for the Border Patrol.

On Tuesday, a ranch owner near Skeleton Ranch about 30 miles east of
Douglas called authorities after a worker on the ranch discovered a
man's body, said Gustavo Soto, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman.
The agency didn't know his name or age.

Through the end of March, the latest figures available, the agency
has reported 49 border deaths in the Tucson Sector, down slightly
from the 55 at the same time last year, figures show.

On Monday, Border Patrol agents found nearly 2,800 pounds of
marijuana inside a van in Green Valley. A helicopter spotted two
vehicles that appeared to be preparing to load illegal entrants. When
agents arrived at West Continental Road and South Camino de Sol, they
found the van and a white pickup truck, Soto said.

Agents arrested two Mexican citizens, ages 24 and 25, Soto said. Both
vehicles were reported stolen.

The 2,798 pounds has an estimated value of $2.798 million, according
to figures from the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Through the end of March, agents in the Tucson Sector had seized
498,815 pounds of marijuana, a 38 percent increase from the same time last year.