Cochise County, Arizona, has become a high-risk route for drug and human smuggling as a result of the crisis plaguing the US-Mexico border. Reportedly, many young Americans are being recruited by drug cartels through social media.
County Sheriff Mark Dannels told CBS News, "We have over a hundred juveniles in the last 18 months that we've apprehended in this county smuggling, all the way to the age of 13 and 12 years of age down here, driving grandma's car, a friend's car, or mom and dad's car down here, and it's social media."
Last year, Arizona passed strict felony human smuggling laws in response to the rising issue. According to Dannels, the majority of the almost 400 arrests made since then involve out-of-county American citizens.
'Uber for the Cartels'
Drug gangs used social media ads and messages to entice many people into the illicit trade, offering them large sums of money for helping to get migrants quickly through the border.
In June, North Carolina deputies captured 18-year-old Gerardo Alarcon-Martin, who had led them on a high-speed pursuit. He then admitted to authorities that he had been instructed to pick up three migrants in the desert after replying to a TikTok message. He pled guilty to aiding a human smuggling operation.
"It is 100% Uber for the cartels," said Deputy Chris Oletsky, a 20-year Marine veteran who joined a five-deputy unit that intercepts human traffickers.
Perilous Vehicle Pursuit
High-speed manhunts for criminals are a common occurrence at night in Cochise County. Some of the violent collisions and encounters with police have been caught on body cameras during the high-stakes pursuits.
A 16-year-old suspected smuggler in the year 2021 collided with a 65-year-old on her way to her own birthday dinner. Sadly, she passed away.
A squad led by Oletsky recently stopped a car coming from Phoenix, three hours north of Cochise County. The driver, a 23-year-old who said he was stealing to pay rent, was arrested. In the back, an illegal immigrant was discovered.
A few minutes later, authorities were hot on the trail of another fugitive they suspected of being a smuggler. Bernadette Fuaga, 47, was recognized as the driver whose tires were ruptured by the spike strip. She was apprehended in the Phoenix area. Six suspected migrants were seen fleeing the area.
For Dannels, the cartels' blatant disregard for human life is justification enough for lawmakers to take action. "It pisses me off because we've been talking about this for almost three years. I've testified in front of Congress. I've met with anybody that'll listen to us and every day that goes by I see another tragedy," he said.
