THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS NOW HAUL $30 BILLION PER YEAR IN DRUG MONEY BACK TO MEXICO!
By Dennis Wagner, The Arizona Republic
On May 9, a 15-year-old girl walked into Arizona through the San Luis port of entry, near Yuma, with 5 pounds of marijuana strapped around her belly, Customs and Border Protection records show.
She was busted by customs officers.
Later that day, a 16-year-old boy tried the same thing with 2 pounds of cannabis taped to his legs. He, too, was arrested.
The marijuana, with a combined street value of $72,000, was confiscated.
The juveniles — both U.S. citizens — were turned over to police, but others keep taking their place.
In the past two years, Homeland Security officials have witnessed a disturbing development along the Mexican border: kid smugglers.
"It's going up," said Michael Lowrie, a public-affairs agent for the U.S. Border Patrol. "Not a whole lot, but more than we've seen in, well, pretty much ever."
The Border Patrol does not keep data on juvenile drug runners caught trying to sneak into Arizona. Customs and Border Protection records show 130 minors were caught attempting to bring drugs through entry ports from Sonora into Arizona during fiscal 2009, an 83% increase over the previous year.
Teresa Small, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman in San Luis, said narcotics organizations are recruiting American teens with claims that they won't face major punishment if caught.
"Drug-trafficking organizations lead them to believe they will not have a substantial sentence," Small said. Prison terms are not uncommon for teen smugglers.
The problem escalated last year to a point where federal and local authorities created programs to warn Yuma County students about the dangers and consequences of drug smuggling. The federal campaign includes a presentation by border agents.
Judge Maria Elena Cruz said she has noticed a surge of young smugglers who are stunned when she orders them incarcerated.
Small said most of the youthful offenders are Americans with family members in Mexico. She said port officers generally refer suspects to local authorities for prosecution under Arizona law, rather than to the federal justice system.
"One thing for sure: They will get the hardest punishment possible," Small said.
Still, the cases pile up.
On June 24, Customs and Border Protection reported, a 16-year-old American boy was arrested at the San Luis port of entry with cocaine taped to his leg.
"They think they're going to get away with it or get a slap on the wrist," Lowrie
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