Thread: CA: SD fare fraud probe reaches south of the border

SD fare fraud probe reaches south of the border

The Associated Press
Jan. 8, 2011 - 3:15 pm
SAN DIEGO, CA

An investigation into rampant fare fraud on the San Diego Trolley reached south of the border, with undercover employees sent to Tijuana to gather information on ticket counterfeiters and the illegal resale of day passes.

The Metropolitan Transit System formed a security team to combat fare evasion that produced photos and information about how ticket-selling operations thrive in Mexico, the San Diego Union Tribune reported Friday.

In some cases, undercover workers went to Tijuana to pose as tourists and purchase tickets. Profiteers often obtain used day passes that cost $5 from MTS, and illegally resell them for $2, the newspaper said

The transit agency's cross-border probe may have violated international protocols, according to Mexican officials.

A spokesman and international liaison for the Baja California State Police told the Union Tribune any time public or private security agents enter Baja California to gather intelligence, they are supposed to check in with local or state authorities.

"The protocol for all law enforcement is to contact Mexican law enforcement to work in conjunction and that includes private security or private investigators," said the spokesman, Alfredo Arenas.

MTS spokesman Rob Schupp said international protocols were not a consideration for security staff investigating fraud.

"Passenger safety and fare evasion are top priorities for MTS," he said. "It is important to investigate any report of fare evasion or illegal activity."

Schupp said "all investigations conducted by MTS are in full compliance with all applicable laws."

The agency collects $80 million in fare revenue. Officials could not offer an estimate of how much is lost to fraud, given the underground nature of the activity.

Reselling tickets has been a problem for MTS for the last year and a half, Schupp said. After concentrating on illegal ticket-sellers in San Diego County, investigators were eventually led south of the border.

MTS would not say how many times the agency sent employees on security details in Mexico or how many employees participated in the exercise.

The agency's board members, contacted by the Union Tribune, said they were not aware undercover operations were being conducted in Mexico.

"I knew there was an issue of people reselling tickets," board member and San Diego City Councilman Tony Young said. "At no time do I remember them saying they were going down to Mexico. It was never characterized as an international issue.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/08/330968 ... z1AYyo2s6d

The transit agency's cross-border probe may have violated international protocols, according to Mexican officials.

Mexico probably gives a helping hand in this fraud just as they have been involved in other illegal activities going on in the USA