El PASO, TEXAS – While thousands of migrants are headed for the southern border, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is concerned that drug traffickers may have the same plan.
In El Paso, Texas, drug activity is already high, as border teams are arresting more people for hiding drugs in cars, commercial consignments and even backpacks almost daily. Both the agents and the people who live there say they fear it could get worse.
“It worries me because you know, you never know. There are some good people, there are some bad people … you never know it can be dangerous,” Albert Hernandez told Fox News.
Hernandez has lived in Sunland Park, New Mexico, for 30 years. The city is along the southern border, just minutes from El Paso. He saw many changes, including the construction of the border wall, but lately, he has noticed more people trying to cross illegally – especially where there are gaps along the mountains.
Along Monte Cristo Rey in El Paso, TX and Sunland Park, NM, you can see part of the edge of the US-Mexico border wall (Stephanie Bennett / Fox News).
“Sometimes it’s like a daily thing, you know, every day,” said Hernandez. “People try to come in like a pack.”
Illegal crossings are keeping the border patrol – and also the El Paso DEA – busy.
“In the first five months, we apprehended more than the entire year for 2019 and 2020, so this is worrying for us and all drugs in general, that is, methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The only drug is marijuana , we didn’t apprehend that much, “Kyle Williamson, special agent for the DEA in charge of the El Paso Division, told Fox News.
In less than six months – since October – agents have seized more than 1,451 kg of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. This is almost more than the total figure for fiscal years 2020 (1,462 kg) and 2019 (1,609 kg).
The DEA says that 90% of the drugs come from Mexico across the southwestern border (Stephanie Bennett / Fox News).
The DEA’s El Paso Division covers Western Texas and New Mexico, patrolling about 778 miles from the US-Mexico border, which is more than any other DEA division. As soon as drugs enter the country, they move quickly.
“After crossing the border to El Paso, you can practically, from here, have access to the entire interstate system in the United States,” said Williamson. “Ninety percent of the drugs arrive through the southwestern border and arrive through Mexico, and arrive in commercialized cargo. … They have the capacity to have these mega-laboratories there, they have greater access to chemical precursors, therefore, they are making meth and drugs like fentanyl. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “
US Customs and Border Protection officials continue to transfer labor in the southwest to handle migrant traffic. DEA says it is working closely with other agencies to tackle this problem (Stephanie Bennett / Fox News).
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials continue to transfer labor in the southwest to handle migrant traffic. In some cases, as in Arizona, they are closing some control points completely. Williamson says it will appeal to drug dealers.
“The migration crisis here in the El Paso area is relatively new, so at the moment I cannot attribute this to the migration crisis, looking at maybe 60 to 90 days, the cartels are going to take a situation like this and exploit it and maybe as a result, try to move more drugs, “said Williamson.
For now, Hernandez says he is happy to have the extra eyes in his backyard.
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“I feel more secure, you know, it’s good, it’s quiet,” he said. “I think the Border Patrol is doing its job to be honest, and I feel especially in those moments, you know, with the Coronavirus thing and everything that is happening is safe, I feel safe. Get over it is very difficult they do not go far , You know. “
As long as there is demand in the U.S., drug cartels will find ways to bring the drugs. DEA says it is working closely with other agencies to tackle this problem.