Mexican Cartels Recruit American Kids as Young as 12 to Smuggle Illegal Goods

A serious trend is making it along the US-Mexican border where Mexican cartels are employing American youths as young as 12 years old, according to an article from Fox News. These youths were reported to have been used to smuggle drugs and weapons.

Increasing Trend of Children Smugglers of Illegal Goods

According to Alan Regalado, an agent from the Tucson Sector Border Patrol, the smuggling of illegal materials in the US-Mexican border through the use of minors is a problem by cartels. He said that the agency is already in the process of controlling the issue through prevention and education. 

Based on a report by the United States Customs and Border Protection, in 2018 there were 36 minors captured for possessing narcotics at the port of entry in Arizona. Also, in 2019, the number increased to 57. Currently, there are at least 17 reported arrests since October 2019 of the related case.

The T.E.A.M. Kids Program

After finding out about the increasing trend of arrested minors for smuggling illegal products in the US-Mexican border, Regalado devised a plan to initiate the T.E.A.M. (Together Educating and Mentoring) Kids program. This program aims to educate students about border recruiters.

The program identified that there is a need for the program to also be implemented to elementary pupils. 

According to Regalado, when they visited local high schools, they found out there were already students who were recruited. This had led the agency to decide to educate students as early as in their elementary school years. 

School Programs about the Issue

Different schools located in the different parts of Southwest of the United States had implemented similar programs for children. One of these programs is 'Operation Detour.' This program is used to educate students from middle school and in high school about illegal smuggling of goods in the US-Mexican border. 

Another program is the D.A.R.E. program. This aims to educate students to fight against violence and the abuse of a substance. 

However, Regalado still believes that the program should be implemented to minors at an earlier stage in their life, such as in their elementary school years. 

The Arrests of Children Smugglers 

According to the Santa Cruz County Attorney's Office, there were already three minors who were arrested this year. 

According to the lawyer of the county, they have the option of charging the minors as if they were adults if they are at least 14 years old and they make a class two felony. The transport of illegal drugs for trade will be classified as a class two felony.

Santa Cruz Attorney's Office and Their Assistance to the T.E.A.M. Kids Program

The Santa Cruz Attorney's Office lends a helping hand to the T.E.A.M. Kids Program by visiting different schools. In schools, they educate children about illegal drug activities. They also share with the children their stories about arresting cases involved with illegal drug trade with Mexican cartels.

During talks in front of children, he assured them that he will send any one of them to prison if they are caught with dangerous and illegal drugs.

His team always made sure to be one step in advance of the criminals. He knows that when the Mexican cartels find out that a significant number of minor are being arrested, they shift to recruiting old people and pregnant women.