My guess is that the "Easy Ride" is over for these point men, Not that it isn't LONG overdue.
GTC
Link:
http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13170283 Border Patrol eyeing spotters
Posted: Sep 16, 2010 8:53 PM Updated: Sep 17, 2010 11:11 AM
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Reporter: Joel Waldman
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - We've seen the signs of illegal immigration, literally. The ones that read, "Danger! Warning! Travel Not Recommended!" They're scattered about the southern Arizona desert, warning American citizens about their own land. We've also seen the debris trails smugglers leave as they pass through the desert.
It seems like all eyes are on the problems of illegal immigration. But, now, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and his fellow citizens are speaking up and saying that while we're all looking at the issues, someone else is eyeing all of us."
"Citizens deep inside our own county (Pinal) don't feel safe anymore. They're (spotters) on our hilltops watching our citizens!" exclaimed Sheriff Babeu.
"Who would think that just 70-80 miles north of the (Mexican) border there would be this type of situation?" added Pinal County resident Jay Stewart.
Its a situation that unsettled the peaceful Sawtooth Mountains back in July. It took until now for residents to feel comfortable enough to come forward.
Sheriff Babeu says spotter Hiram Rendon-Rios was found holed up in a tiny cave on Wild Cat Peak in Silverbell. Authorities say Rendon-Rios was found with food, communication equipment, clothing and binoculars. Babeu told KGUN9 the spotter was doing exactly that; keeping an eye out for the cartels, so their smuggling went smoothly. Rendon-Rios was detained and later deported to Mexico.
Now, Customs and Border Protection admits the problem of spotters, or scouts as CBP refers to them, is widespread.
"It border patrol aware of scouts, as you call them, and are you intentionally doing stuff to try to find them?" KGUN9 asked. "Border patrol is aware of scouts and we are aware of locations they prefer to use. And, because we had a decreasing number of apprehensions, we can now start to target these locations." said CBP spokesperson David Jimarez.
Undisclosed locations where border patrol found surveillance equipment, like walkie talkies and charger. It seems simple enough, but authorities admit there are sinister intentions.
"Their primary responsibility is to go ahead and provide visual control over border patrol in that area to notify their organizations of any activity taking place," said Agent Jimarez.
