Border Patrol using mug-shot fliers in effort to fight smuggling

Fernanda Echavarri Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star
Monday, November 8, 2010 12:00 am

People traveling through the international border with Mexico on Fridays will now see mug shots of dozens of smuggling suspects on fliers at checkpoints and ports of entry. The program aims to show people photos of at-large suspects in hopes that someone can give authorities tips that lead to arrests.

All the people featured on the fliers are linked to the Tucson Sector, said Eric Cantu, a Border Patrol spokesman. They're wanted in connection with the smuggling of people or drugs, and all are high on the agency's most-wanted list.

Border Patrol agents are handing out the fliers once a week and will display large posters with the 30 mug shots at the checkpoints, Cantu said. "We're not going to be changing those pictures too often, because we want the public to really recognize these faces, and hopefully help us apprehend these smugglers," Cantu said.

The fliers and posters have a phone number to call with any information on the suspects. All callers will remain anonymous.

"We want to reach the public as much as possible, and hope to put up billboards and even TV ads in the future," Cantu said.

Authorities on the Mexican side of the border also have begun displaying the posters and fliers, he said.

"Information Wanted" started in California in June. The Border Patrol's El Centro Sector has received many calls already, said Adrian Corona, a spokesman for that sector. "Two of the people featured on our billboard have already been apprehended," he said.

On StarNet: Search an online database of individuals who have died trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at go.azstarnet.com/ borderdeaths

How To Help

Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call 1-877-872-7435.

Contact Fernanda Echavarri at 573-4224 or fechavarri@azstarnet.com

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/ ... 407bb.html