| Illegal Immigration / Border
Security Drug Smugglers Use Fake Government
Trucks
By U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)
October 31, 2007
The drug smugglers have gotten smarter. They now disguise vehicles they
are using to smuggle drugs into America to look exactly like Texas State
transportation trucks. They mask them with official decals and even
license plates; thus, making it easier to bring drugs into the United
States.
Even though this criminal activity is highly organized, at least 11 drug
dealers have been captured bringing thousands of dollars worth of drugs
into our country using these fake State vehicles.
But when the U.S. Attorney prosecuted these criminals, they received
relatively light sentences. Some people received only fines. One
received 24 months in prison, far less than the 11- and 12-year
sentences that Border Agents Ramos and Compean received when they were
prosecuted by the same U.S. Attorney for wounding a drug smuggler on the
border.
The U.S. Attorney's weak prosecution of drug smugglers is disturbing.
The U.S. Attorney's Office seems to be more interested in prosecuting
border agents than it is in prosecuting the real criminals that bring
drugs into our country. The overwhelming message here is that a measly
fine is just a cost of doing business: the drug smuggling business in
America.
And that's just the way it is.
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