A Mexican national was reportedly arrested for smuggling bags of various illegal drugs on horses after Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents came to the aid of a local police department. 

A police officer from the Tohono O’odham Police Department came upon a man leading a pair of horses near the village of Santa Rosa, Arizona.  The horses were carrying large burlap sacks, according to U.S. Border Patrol. 

As the officer approached the man, he fled to avoid arrest, officials stated.  The officer contacted Border Patrol for assistance in finding the man. 

The officer searched the large burlap bags and discovered 262 pounds of marijuana that were being carried by the horses.  The officer also found an additional six pounds of methamphetamine stored in the burlap bags.  Officials estimated the value of the cargo to be in excess of $123,000. 

Border Patrol agents carried out a search for the man who fled from the police officer.  The agents eventually found him hiding in the vicinity of the original encounter, officials stated. 

Border Patrol agents arrested the man for drug smuggling and determined that he is a 25-year-old Mexican national. 

Officials turned the drugs and the Mexican national over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. 

“The Tucson Sector has seen smuggling organizations utilize horses and mules throughout the years.  Although it is not often, it is not uncommon,” Tucson Sector spokesman, Border Patrol Agent Stephanie Dixon told Breitbart Texas in response to an inquiry. 

“[The] horses go through [a] quarantine phase with the United States Department of Agriculture, if we cannot utilize the horse, the USDA has their own procedure for finding them a new home,” Dixon said. “ If the horses are deemed fit for work, Border Patrol will utilize them on our Horse Patrol units.” 

Santa Rosa, Arizona, is located in the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation about 60 miles north of the Arizona-Mexico Border.