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Drug Money Gushes Across Border

Crackdown on security fails to put a dent in cartels' wallets

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2010 7:18 AM CDT | Updated Aug 26, 2010 8:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – Drug cartels are shuttling money across the US/Mexico border with relative impunity, despite an unprecedented effort to crackdown on the trade. According to a Washington Post analysis, authorities manage to snag no more than 1% of the cash crossing the border. That’s still a lot of money—the US captured $85 million last year—but it’s nothing to the cartels, amounting to less than the fees on a standard wire transfer.

“Cash is the ultimate challenge for us,” said the DEA’s head of financial operations. “It moves so rapidly, so fluidly.” The head of the Border Patrol agent union agreed. “Throw a backpack of cash over the fence into Mexico, and what are we going to do?” he said. “Charge someone with littering in a foreign country?” In Mexico, meanwhile, cartels still routinely manage to corrupt and intimidate customs inspectors.

Mexican soldiers check cars at the customs checkpoint in Miguel Aleman, on Mexico' northeastern border with the U.S., Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
Mexican soldiers check cars at the customs checkpoint in Miguel Aleman, on Mexico' northeastern border with the U.S., Wednesday, March 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
Lewdac
Aug 26, 2010 2:00 PM CDT
I havn't even read the comments yet but I bet everyone ten bucks that ssmith has atleast two comments that are nearly impossible to follow. I appreciate the effort ssmith, but keep trying.
diltsduo
Aug 26, 2010 1:52 PM CDT
Just keep killing the Iraq people! who cares about OUR BOARDERS
Shawn_The_Bohn
Aug 26, 2010 12:24 PM CDT
Our government can't protect us, but they sure as fuck know how to inconvenience the hell out of us in every facet of our lives under the guise of protecting us. Our government is too paranoid. Way too fucking paranoid. And law enforcement is out of control, there are simply too many people, agencies, contractors, etc. for it to be an efficient enterprise. Combine paranoia, particularly paranoia of the citizens they're supposed to protect, with the job of actually protecting the citizens, and a nightmare cluster fuck of people and agencies, and you've got a recipe for epic failure. But don't listen to me, no, just keep doing what you're doing guys, maybe someday you can get 2% of the money.

 
Mexican border • drug trafficking • Border Patrol • smuggling • Mexican drug cartel • US-Mexico border

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