17 suspected smugglers arrested in Arizona; 490 pounds of pot seized

YUMA, Ariz. (AP) -- Border Patrol agents in southwestern Arizona have arrested 17 suspected drug smugglers, 15 people posing as legal U.S. residents and seized nearly 500 pounds of marijuana.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say 15 people posing as legal residents were arrested at the Wellton Station checkpoint on Interstate 8 east of Yuma in separate incidents Friday and Saturday.

They say all 15 were from Mexico and had valid immigration documents that belonged to other people.

CBP officials say it's still unclear if documents had been reported stolen.

Agents also arrested 17 Mexican residents Friday and Saturday on accusations of smuggling marijuana into Arizona.

CBP officials say the agents found the group near Sentinel south of Interstate 8 and seized 490 pounds of marijuana worth more than $245,000.