Border Patrol Finds Children Used as Decoys for Smugglers

[Wolfmoon]

The illegal aliens have no value for life.

Border Patrol Finds Children Used as Decoys for Smugglers

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/10052011_7.xml

Wednesday, October 05, 2011




Tucson, Ariz. – In what has become a disturbing recent trend, criminals are using children as decoys in drug smuggling vehicles. In the last two days, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector, a component of the Joint Field Command – Arizona, have removed five children from vehicles in two failed smuggling attempts.


One recent example of smugglers endangering the lives of children occurred on October 4. A K-9 team working at the Interstate 19 Checkpoint alerted to a vehicle driven by a 36-year-old United States citizen woman accompanied by her four minor children aged 17, 9, 6 and 4-years-old as it approached the primary inspection. The vehicle was referred for a secondary inspection where agents discovered eight bundles of marijuana concealed in the trunk. The bundles had a combined weight of 197 pounds and an estimated value of $98,500.


The vehicle, drugs and children were transported to the Nogales Station. Child Protective Services was contacted and took custody of the children. The mother is being presented for prosecution on federal drug smuggling charges.


On October 3, another child was removed from a drug smuggling vehicle which was seized at the State Route 80 Checkpoint. The driver, a 34-year old United States citizen and mother of the 8-year-old child, was attempting to smuggle 104 pounds of marijuana, worth $52,000, concealed in the vehicle’s trunk.


Agents working at Border Patrol checkpoints may see hundreds of faces every day and have only seconds to determine whether a person is involved in criminal activity. Smugglers try to exploit this challenge by using people they believe do not look like the usual suspects. Agents use technology and K-9 teams to counter this tactic to ensure all criminals are brought to justice and that children are taken out of harm’s way.


CBP announced the JFC-AZ in February as an organizational realignment that brings together the U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure. JFC-AZ integrates CBP border security, commercial enforcement and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in Arizona.


Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure, safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona’s communities.


CBP welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity by calling the Border Patrol toll free at (877) 872-7435. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

 

[Wolfmoon]

"Smugglers often disregard their own personal safety, as well as the public and even their own family members. Such actions are callous and show a willingness to endanger a child to profit from criminal activities."

Border Patrol Removes Child from Drug Smuggling Vehicle

http://us.mg3.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?reason=ignore&rs=1

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Both of these cases involved US Citizen parents endangering the lives of their kids.

None of this had anything to do with immigration.

 

[Angelhair]

Both of these cases involved US Citizen parents endangering the lives of their kids.

None of this had anything to do with immigration.

Of course....but in any case, the fruit does not fall far from the tree.

 

[waltky]

Cartels recruiting Texas students to deal drugs...

Mexican Drug Cartels Recruiting Texas Students
October 15, 2011 | We have a warning for parents about a disturbing new trend. Drug cartels are seeking younger and younger recruits, and they're finding them in Texas schools. Six of the seven Mexican cartels have established command and control networks in Texas.

A couple of incidents within the last 30 days prompted the warning, but the increased threat began a few years ago. Last May, it hit home. That's when Elisabeth Mandala left Kempner High School in Sugar Land for Mexico. She wound up beaten to death in a pick up truck along with two men carrying fake identification. It's believed the violent drug cartels recruited Mandala to smuggle undocumented immigrants across the border. "The cartel influence is here," said Duane Steen, regional commander for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The DPS is warning parents across the state that children are at risk of being seduced by the cartels that seem to be stepping up their game. "Sometimes this may be delivering drugs. It may be crossing drugs over from Mexico or involvement in some of the other violent activities," said Steen. Just last week in a border county officers caught a 12-year-old boy driving a stolen pick up truck with more than 800 pounds of marijuana.

Last month two Texas teens were lured to Mexico where they were kidnapped, beaten, ransomed and released in a remote area along the Rio Grande River. Within the past year, more than 25 juveniles have been arrested for drug trafficking in one Texas border county alone. "Recruiting is easy for such a vulnerable population," said Kim Ogg, the former gang task force director for the city of Houston.

Ogg suspects the cartels are recruiting through gangs. "Some see it (the gang) as their family. Some are attracted to the money, drugs, guns, women, and others are attracted because they have family members in gangs and it seems normal," said Ogg. There are thousands of candidates for recruitment in Houston area schools. They include kids who are U.S. citizens, speak Spanish and can blend in on both sides of the border.

The DPS says parents should pay attention to who their kids are hanging out with since recruiters may not be who you might think. "The people recruiting them may not be much older, maybe a 16 or 17-year-old, but they're tracking them down, talking to them, telling them how glamorous it is to deal and traffic drugs," said Commander Steen. What the cartels won't tell recruits is how it all could end with jail, injury or death.

Read more: Mexican Drug Cartels Recruiting Texas Students | Fox News Latino