MEXICO: Mexican trucking companies move to disrupt the drugs pipeline into the U.S.

Record ID: 303421

  • Title: MEXICO: Mexican trucking companies move to disrupt the drugs pipeline into the U.S.
  • Date: 27th March 2009
  • Summary: CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) U.S CUSTOMS POLICE AGENTS ON BORDER VARIOUS OF CUSTOMS AGENTS AND OFFICIALS POSING WITH SEIZED DRUG PACKAGES ON BORDER INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE SHIELD THAT READS: U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE 1789 CUSTOMS AGENTS AND SEIZED MERCHANDISE SIGN THAT READS: WELCOME TO MEXICO ARMY VEHICLES ON STREET ARMY REVISION POINT VARIOUS OF TRAILERS DRIVING ALONG BORDER VARIOUS OF CHECK POINTS WITH SNIFFER DOGS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAULAGE COMPANY INSPECTOR, NOE SOLIS, SAYING: "With the inspection, using sniffer dogs, we detect no drugs are being transported, weapons or any other type of cargo which is illegal. That is why we review papers and sniffer dogs carry out their work." VARIOUS OF TRAILERS BEING CHECKED BY INSPECTORS AND SNIFFER DOGS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAULAGE COMPANY DRIVER, JOSE VITELA, SAYING: "Well it means more security, personally it's better because then we know we are clear (safe) that we are not carrying anything illegal." TRAILERS DRIVING ALONG BORDER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VICE-PRESIDENT OF MEXICO'S TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION CANACAR, MANUEL SOTELO, SAYING: "We have had to invest in purchasing sniffer dogs to see to drugs, to train our employees to guide them and more so. Everyday it's more common to see that those going towards the United States have satellite tracking devices to provide a real tracking service of our vehicles." VARIOUS OF TRUCKS BEING INSPECTED BY SNIFFER DOGS VARIOUS OF MILITARY CHECK CITY
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAR9OZTOZXI1ZU90IQPTQR09TP
  • Story Text: Every year, Mexican cartels smuggle some 40 billion U.S. dollars worth of illegal drugs into the U.S. - the world's biggest market for narcotics.
    The border city of Ciudad Juarez is at the epicentre of the smuggling routes, but now trucking companies in the city are trying to fight back against the cartels.
    About 3,000 cargo trucks cross the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso border on a daily basis, but as drug trafficking mushroomed, truckers became the target of the cartels who used intimidation and violence to force drivers to take on drug shipments as part of their load.
    Drug trafficking gangs realized many trucks carrying merchandise were not subject to rigorous checks and began to intercept carriers between plants and the border, threatening to kill truck drivers if they didn't take drugs on board.
    Following arrests of their drivers and a number of drug seizures, some trucking companies in Ciudad Juarez moved to take matters into their own hands and set up their own checkpoints before the border to check for drugs.
    Each truck is now scoured by haulage company personnel and sniffer dogs trained to detect drugs.
    Inspectors and sniffer dogs look for any signs of illegal merchandise in trailer boxes, especially drug and weapon loads.
    "With the inspection, using sniffer dogs, we detect no drugs are being transported, weapons or any other type of cargo which is illegal. That is why we review papers and sniffer dogs carry out their work," haulage company inspector, Noe Solis, told Reuters Television.
    If drugs or weapons are found, inspectors alert authorities - freeing them of any responsibility in the transportation of illegal merchandise.
    Most drivers are happy with the checkpoints, because it's a way to protect themselves. On previous occasions, several drivers were arrested by local customs authorities, when drugs or illegal merchandise were detected in their vehicles.
    "Well it means more security, personally it's better because then we know we are clear (safe) that we are not carrying anything illegal,"
    said haulage company driver, Jose Vitela.
    The new measure has reduced threats to drivers as drug traffickers realised their chances of getting their drugs across the border was in danger.
    For the trucking companies, the decision to introduce the checkpoints was a simple business decision - they had to restore confidence with clients in the U.S. that merchandise would arrive.
    "We have had to invest in purchasing sniffer dogs to see to drugs, to train our employees to guide them and more so. Everyday it's more common to see that those going towards the United States have satellite tracking devices to provide a real tracking service of our vehicles," said the vice-President of Mexico's Truckers Association, Canacar, Manuel Sotelo.
    Each company has invested thousands of dollars to implement their own security systems. Besides purchasing sniffer dogs used to detect illegal merchandise, they use a satellite system to track the units and each company has installed a toll for checks on their own trucks.
    On average, U.S. authorities detect up to three trailers loaded with drugs on a weekly basis, a situation that has dramatically changed due to these the new checkpoints.
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Mexico for two days of talks on measures to combat drugs violence and trafficking.
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