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  1. #1
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    Smuggler dies in clash with Border Patrol

    Smuggler dies in clash with Border Patrol
    Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:07 PM PST



    TUCSON (AP) - Smugglers bringing drugs or people into the U.S. are increasingly being targeted by rival gangs of smugglers, sometimes shot at or gunned down with their loads ripped off.

    Now, Santa Cruz County sheriff's investigators are looking at the possibility that five suspected drug smugglers may have mistakenly thought they were being robbed at gunpoint when confronted Tuesday night by U.S. Border Patrol agents about 20 miles north of the Mexican border.

    At least one of the backpack-toting men threatened the agents and ended up being shot to death, authorities said. The other four dropped their marijuana-filled packs and ran, but were later caught.

    Sheriff Tony Estrada said Wednesday his detectives were trying to determine whether any shots were fired at the agents before the suspected smuggler was shot.


    ‘‘They threatened (the agents) and apparently the agents fired,'' Estrada said. ‘‘And apparently the individual was attempting to shoot at the agents when he was shot. Definitely the agents were threatened by at least one of the individuals.''

    Earlier, Estrada had said the agents - belonging to a Border Patrol SWAT team - ordered the group to halt and at least one backpacker opened fire, with one or more agents shooting back.

    Estrada said investigators haven't determined whether the backpackers thought they were being jumped by rival smugglers, ‘‘but that's always a possibility.''

    In the past two months, six people believed to be smuggling drugs or involved with human smuggling have died in southern Arizona violence. That includes two Mexican men who died and two who were injured when they were assaulted by armed men wearing camouflage while transporting marijuana.

    In another incident, a van loaded with migrants was shot at near Eloy in January, killing the driver and wounding a passenger. On Feb. 8, three people died and two others were wounded when they were attacked northwest of Tucson. Authorities said both shootings may have involved rival smugglers.

    Estrada said bandits often shoot first and grab the load.

    ‘‘If it is a rip-off, these guys are not going to take any chances. It just creates a real dangerous environment for everybody. They'll shoot, and the smugglers will either scramble or leave the drugs behind. They'll shoot to kill.''

    In Tuesday evening's incident, Border Patrol spokesman Gus Soto said several agents spotted a group of five men and ordered them to halt.

    Shots were fired and one man was fatally injured at the site, Soto said. The rest are being held for questioning, Soto said.

    Estrada said deputies found five bundles of marijuana and at least two firearms.

    Soto said the sequence of events, including how many shots were fired, by whom and when, will be part of the investigation by sheriff's office and the Border Patrol as well.

    ‘‘If the person has the means, opportunity and intent to do serious bodily harm against the agent, our agent can take the appropriate action,'' Soto said.

    The incident was the second fatal shooting by a Border Patrol agent in the Tucson sector since the start of this year, and the seventh involving shots fired at or by agents during the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, Soto said.

    The area has seen a recent increase in drug thefts, illegal immigrant smuggling and various drug-related problems, Estrada said.


    http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles ... state1.txt

  2. #2
    Senior Member Beckyal's Avatar
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    It doesn't make a difference if the drug smugglers thought that the BP were other drug smugglers when they opened fire. It doesn't make a difference if only one of the drug smugglers fired. The BP were protecting themselves in a dangerous situation. The drug smugglers shouldn't have been in the US and shouldn't have fired at the BP.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Neese's Avatar
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    I think our law enforcement needs to stop being so honest. As far as I can tell, we are one of the few countries that plays by the rules, and we always get burned.

  4. #4
    Senior Member BorderFox's Avatar
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    The smugglers know what is going on here. They know the BP has no authority, and they have no respect for them. We have put our BP in serious danger I am afraid.
    Deportacion? Si Se Puede!

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