Thread: TX: Drug Cartels Recruit Students During Spring Break

Drug Cartels Recruit Students During Spring Break

POSTED: 5:13 pm MST March 8, 2007

March 8, 2007 -- El Paso County attorney's office officials said the recruiting of "drug mules" becomes particularly aggressive during spring break, because many more teens from El Paso take advantage of the off-school period to party in Juarez.

That's why the county attorney's office, with the help of two other agencies, will release two public service announcements that show the direct consequences that teens face when they agree to smuggle drugs across the border.

"I think kids can be reached, but when they see the money they can change their minds," said Facundo Gutierrez, a UTEP student.

Money talks, but the county attorney's office hopes these commercials can influence teens. The number of young people smuggling drugs has been declining, but still every year for almost seven years, more than 20 young people get detained at the ports of entry, according to the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department.

The county attorney also wants parents to start family dialogues about the issue.

"So, that they can communicate with their sons and daughters about the significance of this issue and what it means in case they get involved," said County Attorney Jose Rodriguez.

Young people might get recruited to run drugs under the false pretense that nothing will happen to them if they're caught, but a lot can happen, such as incarceration, probation and even worse.

The consequences can include being physically abused or even killed by the drug cartel. Some young people said they think these television ads will work.

"If I see, especially on commercials, like, stuff like, that it will make an impact. It sticks in your head," said UTEP student Ramiro Gutierrez.

The ads will air on six cable channels, including MTV, ESPN 2 and Comedy Channel, between Sunday, March 11 and March 17.

The broadcasting is made possible by a donation from the Rio Grande Safe Communities Coalition.

Time Warner Cable will help make the most out of the money by broadcasting one free ad for each one that is purchased.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/11206036/detail.html
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Video at the link too.

Man,

What a bunch of worlthless sons of Beeeps.....
Using young men and women, teens and children to do nasty horrible crime for money, we need some cool jobs to keep theses kids busy all of spring break.