CBP Investigates Mexican Drug Cartels Using Children to Smuggle Fentanyl into U.S.

EL PASO, TX – Federal officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are investigating two cases in which a Mexican drug cartel allegedly used children as carriers and bait to smuggle fentanyl into the United States.

Children ages nine, 11 and 16 were reportedly involved in separate drug busts at an entry point in Arizona, just north of an area where Sinaloa cartel cells are known to operate. The first bust occurred over Labor Day weekend, when a 16-year-old American female attempted to re-enter the United States on foot through the San Luis Port of Entry in San Luis.

A CBP agent processing her report saw an alert for a minor reported missing and referred the girl to a secondary inspection area. Agents interviewing the girl discovered the teen had drugs in a package taped to her abdomen. When they removed the package, agents discovered 16,200 fentanyl pills she had obtained in Mexico to transport back to the U.S. CBP agents seized the drugs and turned the girl over to the custody of officers with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

The second seizure occurred on the evening of Tuesday, September 3, when a 32-year-old American mother drove a Kia sedan with her two children, ages nine and 11, to the border crossing from San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. According to CBP officials, the agent on duty directed the family to a second inspection area of the border crossing to check the vehicle. At that inspection area, a K9 officer alerted them to any abnormalities and the Kia was driven through an x-ray portal.

Border agents disassembled the tires and recovered 54,000 blue fentanyl pills and four kilograms of methamphetamine. CBP said the seized drugs are worth nearly $200,000. Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) interviewed the mother and placed her in custody.

CBP has not said what happened to the two children, who were also U.S. citizens. It is likely they were released to other family members or placed in the custody of a child protection agency.

Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis said, “Both seizures highlight how drug trafficking organizations exploit children as part of their business. Our CBP agents remain vigilant on America’s front lines and are committed to keeping these deadly drugs out of our communities.” San Luis Rio Colorado, across the border from San Luis, Arizona, has seen a flurry of Sinaloa cartel activity over the past six years. As recently as March, drug tunnels leading to the U.S. border were discovered, mass graves were unearthed, and shootouts between rival cells have been reported.

According to the Border Report, in the late hours of Sunday, September 8, four people were killed in gunfights between members of organized crime groups and several vehicles were shot at just south of the Texas-Mexico border. Luis Aguirre, chief of staff of the Chihuahua State Police, said: “We are increasing security to ensure the safety of the people in Ojinaga, Coyame and Manuel Benavides. We have at least four dead and another injured by gunfire.”

State police seized four abandoned vehicles, including a Chevrolet Avalanche, a Ford F-150 pickup, a Jeep Rubicon and a Land Rover. Both the Jeep and Land Rover had Texas license plates.

A burned vehicle was also found, along with two AK-47 rifles, two smoke grenades and assorted ammunition that were seized. State police officials said they were investigating numerous social media posts allegedly uploaded by the groups involved, but declined to comment on a motive.

Ojinaga and Coyame have been the scene of killings in recent years as two cartels, La Linea and Sinaloa, battle for control of migrant smuggling. In May, five taxi drivers went missing after dropping off migrants they had picked up in Chihuahua City at different locations in Ojinaga. A few days later, police found their half-naked bodies abandoned on the side of a highway near Chihuahua City. All had suffered gunshot wounds.