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TUCSON - United States Border Patrol agents seized more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana in two separate events within 24 hours of each other over the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, agents at the checkpoint on State Route 86 responded to a report of suspicious activity. Agents tried to stop a vehicle but the drivers failed to yield. The driver suddenly stopped the vehicle and, along with two other passengers, fled into the desert. Agents discovered more than 500 pounds of marijuana inside the car. A helicopter unit from Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine helped find all three suspects.

On Sunday morning, agents working on State Route 85 near Why approached a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle fled into the desert but agents were able to find it. The car was abandoned in a nearby wash with 56 bundles of marijuana. The combined weight is close to 900 pounds.

In both cases, the vehicles and marijuana were seized and processed. The marijuana will be transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

From October 2009 to April 30, 2010, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol seized more than 622,000 pounds of marijuana exceeding $498 million in value.