Thread: More young men being caught smuggling

More young men being caught smuggling narcotics

By Angelica Martinez (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
Originally published 10:27 a.m. March 10, 2009, updated 12:50 p.m., March 10, 2009

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seen a recent increase in the number of youths working as smugglers who are taping narcotics to their bodies, officials said.

Since late August, when officers first noticed an upswing, officers have caught 157 people … mainly teenage boys and young men … walking into the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry from Mexico with drugs hidden under their clothing.

The majority of the smugglers were U.S. citizens, officials said. The others were Mexican nationals. They ranged in age from 15 to 56, with most in their teens to early 20s, officials said.

Officials said 16 of those apprehended were teenage girls or women. Their ages were not available.

Officers in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa have seized a total of 258 pounds of marijuana, more than a pound of heroin, roughly 5 pounds of cocaine and more than 9 pounds of methamphetamine from the smugglers, officials said.

In most incidents, the smuggler taped a few pounds of marijuana to his torso with tape. Eighty-seven percent of the arrests occurred at the San Ysidro crossing.

This technique isn't new to authorities, but they say the sudden spike in smuggling by youths is a disturbing trend. Earlier this month, for instance, three 14-year-old boys who are U.S. citizens were caught smuggling more than 11 pounds of marijuana as they crossed at San Ysidro.
Most of the offenders faced narcotics smuggling charges in federal or state courts, and a few were penalized with fines up to $5,000, officials said.

Angelica Martinez: (619) 293-1317; (Contact

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... gle102735/

Smugglers have even been known to fill baby diapers and strollers with drugs. Cute kids coming across the border with mom should not be suspected. How many drug-sniffing pooches does Mexico have, or do they even care what gets out of their country into ours?