In today’s world, speed and efficiency is key. The same goes for drug
smuggling. Since the war on drugs
began, the government has been chasing down and busting drug smuggling rings
operating across international borders.
It is a cat-and-mouse game between DEA and drug cartels. Because of advancements in the DEA’s
technology, drug cartels have had to come up with ingenious ways in order to
bring their products into the United States.
Drug cartels still use standard methods of smuggling their
products, such as drug filled balloons in the stomach and large commercial
18-wheelers. However, DEA, airport
customs agents, border patrol, and other law enforcement agencies are well aware of these methods. Because law enforcement is aware of
these methods, smugglers have invested in ways to fly under the radar and make
their deliveries.
One ingenious method of delivery I saw on National
Geographic’s show Drugs Inc. is the use of mini submarines (shown below). According to southasiananalysis.org,
these mini submarines can carry up to ten tons of cocaine or various other
drugs worth millions of dollars.
One of these small submarines can be loaded off the coast of Mexico,
Latin, or South America and be delivered in the United States in a matter of
hours. The cost of these
submarines is relatively low compared to what the smugglers make per shipment,
therefore, they are widely used and are disposable.
Another ingenious method that has recently been discovered
is underground tunnel systems.
According to foxnews.com more than one hundred drug tunnels have been
discovered starting in Mexico and ending in several bordering states in the
U.S. Because of these tunnels,
hundreds of tons of drugs can enter the United States every week. These tunnels aren’t long either. One tunnel that was discovered in
Arizona was only fifty yards in length.
The cartels closely, and violently, guard the tunnels’ secrecy. Typically, when one is discovered it is
because someone within the cartel told authorities.
Since the United States installed a fence that is seven
hundred miles long and twenty-one feet high, drug cartels use an idea straight
from the history books: catapults.
Smugglers will travel to the fence in a remote location in the middle of
the night with homemade catapults built on trucks and fire packages of drugs
over the fence and into United States territory.
The last method I want to highlight is horrible and
disturbing. Drug cartels will surgically operate on dogs and small puppies and literally fill them with drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. This practice is cruel and
inhumane. The dogs are viewed as
being even more disposable than balloon swallowers. The animal goes through two surgeries for the drugs and
often times die as a result. This
method of drug trafficking is disgusting and needs to be eradicated.
I am not condoning these methods of smuggling but you have
to admit, some of these techniques are ingenious (of course excluding the
dogs). As border patrol, police, and DEA strengthen
their attack on the cartels, I am sure there will be even more ingenious ways
they come up with to smuggle their product. As long as there is demand in the United States and the
World, the cartels won’t stop trying.
Sources include:
foxnews.com
msnbc.com
southasiananalysis.org
I have never heard of some of these methods that you mentioned. I find it incredible that tunnels for drugs have been created and that there are so many of them. How were these created undetected like this? Also, how are those submarines not detected by other ships' radar? It's amazing how drugs have become such a lifestyle throughout our country that people have to resort to such drastic measures. The fact that people are using animals to smuggle in drugs is absolutely awful and inhumane. Of course, many of these ideas are insane and most unheard of, but I would personally like to know how they even come up with some of these ideas in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWow is all I have to say about this. I mean I always knew they were getting drugs in here somehow and I assumed some type of underground thing was used. But, the submarine thing is quite ingenious. I agree with you, using animals makes me even more angry about the situation, but then again people like this obviously don't care about the affects of drugs on humans so why would they care about animals. This problem is incredible but unfortunately will probably not be solved any time soon.
ReplyDeleteA major issue with the "War on Drugs" and proactive measures to stop the smuggling of drugs into the United States is that people will always find a way, no matter what barriers are in place. Think about this, the techniques you wrote about in this post are only the methods that we know of. I'm sure the cartels have several other ways of smuggling in drugs that American officials are still oblivious to. I'm not saying that we should just give up on trying to prevent the issue all together, because the truth is that without the measures we currently have in place the situation would be much worse. I think you nailed it at the end by saying that as long as the demand exists, the suppliers will find a way.
ReplyDeletei totally agree with you. there are probably a lot of other crazy ways that may go undiscovered. ANother one i came across was people flying over the border in one man gliders and dropping stuff in fields. There is no radar that can pick them up cuz the gliders are so small. the cartels are always trying to stay a step ahead
DeleteThese ways are pretty insane. I never heard of the catapults being used or the surgery on the dogs. That just goes to show that people will perform sick acts just to get a little drugs over to us. These people are pretty smart, but were cracking down on these strategies. New techniques will come about and will probably work for awhile, but hopefully we will catch on to them quickly to prevent substance like heroin, meth, etc., to be used in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Those ways are pretty ingenious. I think it's incredible that the drug cartels make enough money to be able to use submarines and then dispose of them. I think the tunnels and catapults are both pretty innovative ways as well. However, the fact that they surgically implant the drugs on dogs/puppies is absolutely awful. I can't believe dogs/puppies could survive long after having a surgery like that. It's crazy to think about the insane lengths some people will go through just to smuggle drugs/make money. No matter what we discover they're doing, I feel they'll just find more ways to continue their lucrative business.
ReplyDeleteI think your blog was very interesting. I have heard of balloon swallowing to smuggle in drugs but the other ways I have never heard of! I think you are right these are ingenious and as long as there is a demand for drugs the Cartels will continue thinking of more ingenious ways to do so. It is quite frightening what they are doing to those dogs and small puppies but unfortunately it does not surprise me. If they can use people as transporters then I’m sure they have no humanity and would use anything. The way these Cartels work it is all about the money and it seems like they will do anything to keep that money coming in to them.
ReplyDeleteSome of the methods such as balloon swallowing and truck drivers smuggling drugs across the border i have heard of before. I have heard of underground tunnels in an article i read also. I found it very interesting that drug cartels use mini submarines and even animals to smuggle drugs. I guess that where there is a demand people will go to great lengths to supply the product and make money. I always hear about the drug trade with Mexico in the news and how much of a problem it is becoming. In an article i read before a 18 year old girl took the sheriff job in a small town in Mexico in the border of the United States. The reason nobody wanted the job is because the three sheriffs before her were beheaded by drug cartel members for interfering with drug shipments. The fact that these cartels use animals in inhumane ways does not surprise me.
ReplyDeleteThe methods these cartels use to smuggle are indeed ingenious. It shows you that people will do anything to beat the system. Law enforcement has a big problem with the cartels, that by the looks of it the border fence wont stop. The animal drug smuggling methods are truly disturbing and law enforcement will have to continue to develop ways to find contraband and disrupt the drug cartel's business.
ReplyDeleteHow in the world is the catapult drugs not being caught? I seems like it wouldnt go far at all, and its seem like they would have to be in close proximity of the border in order to get the drugs across. It is very strange that the underground tunnels are going on without being caught as well , I was thinking the tunnels must go into a particular house. This way they cant be caught smuggling. I can only imagine what other things they do that we have know idea about, I bet there extreme if not more extreme than what was placed in this article.
ReplyDeleteThese ways are disturbing but then again some are brilliant. They are still illegal any way you put it. If the cartel is intelligent enough to keep finding ways to smuggle drugs, then the DEA needs to to be able to outsmart the cartel at their own game. I didnt know the cartel had such unique ways of smuggling drugs into the U.S
ReplyDelete