Cartels have hold on border cops

Sep 05, 2012 By Allyson Blair

It is clear Mexico is a nation in crisis.

According to numbers presented at the National Public Security Council, 40,000 officers were found unfit for duty after polygraph tests and background checks showed many had ties to drugs and cartels.

The meeting also showed most of those dirty cops and government officials were found in 10 of Mexico's 31 states. Arizona's neighbor Sonora was on the list.

Former Director of the El Paso Intelligence Center Phil Jordan said the cartels' control isn't limited to Federales.

"More innocent people will continue to get hurt if the problem of corruption continues to increase, not only in Mexico but on the American side of the border," said Jordan.

The Department of Homeland Security released a report that said last year 35 Customs and Border Protection agents were convicted for having ties to organized crime.

"The difference is that over here in the United States, we have corruption under the table. In Mexico, there's corruption over the table," said Jordan.

This year alone two Arizona Department of Corrections officers and a border patrol agent were busted smuggling dope.

A TSA agent also pleaded guilty to helping the cartel launder money and get past airport security. Jordan said places that used to be off limits are now fair game.

"The cartels recognize no borders. If it comes to violence and you have betrayed one of the cartel members, they will send a hit man and find you and kill you," said Jordan.

In 2010, Martin Alejandro Cota-Monroy was beheaded in Chandler. Police said the cartel hired assassins to travel to Arizona after he stole 400 pounds of marijuana.

With the cartels' reach expanding, Jordan said something has to change.

"You never know where the cartel is going to find somebody that they are after and they don't have a problem with collateral damage," said Jordan.

Cartels have hold on border cops - CBS 5 - KPHO