Thread: Mexican Smugglers Recruiting American Teenagers

Mexican Smugglers Recruiting American Teenagers

U.S. teens the new face of cartel recruits

Updated: Wednesday, 30 Mar 2011, 10:12 PM MDT
Published : Wednesday, 30 Mar 2011, 10:12 PM MDT

TUCSON - You've warned your kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, maybe even the dangers of gangs. But here's something you have never warned them about -- the danger of being recruited to work for a Mexican drug cartel.

Cartels are thriving in the U.S. and looking for teens to join them.

Smugglers, cartel members and gangs are going after American teens, promising them easy money.

Border Patrol agents in Tucson say they have arrested teens as young as 15. Agents say the legal ramifications are high, and the possibility of death at the hands of the cartel is likely.

The young couriers are asked to drive a load of drugs or even people to a drop off spot. In turn, the teens are given a couple hundred bucks. Its fast, easy money, but it could cost them their lives.

"Once they join the cartel, they are a tool, just a slave," says Eric Cantu, from the Border Patrol in Tucson. "If you don't do it, they will wipe you out, erase you."

Border Patrol agents are reaching out to high school students living near the Arizona border. Agents play a movie for teens, showing them the ruthless nature of the cartel.

18-year-old Rene Castaneda says he has seen some of his high school friends sell drugs.

"I think they do make a lot of money, there's some people who push it, they come to school every week with a new pair of Jordans," says Castaneda. "Probably makes them feel powerful, they can get what they want."

The cartels rope in underage teens by promising them immunity from the law, but these teens will be prosecuted and most likely spend time in jail, says Agent Cantu.

Smugglers do not gender discriminate. Cantu described to us a 15-year-old girl who was arrested for driving a couple hundred pounds of marijuana. Even young girls are being recruited.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/wo ... -3-30-2011

Fox News did a segment on this earlier today. their report was from El Paso
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4616666/drug ... -us-teens/

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-232953.html