Teamwork Creates Success

This story describes how 436 pounds of marijuana was stopped from entering into the United States. It's not an exciting tale but it does reflect how a lot of backpackers are caught in the real world. Excellent tracking skills, good tactics and teamwork create the recipe for success that makes a difference in making an apprehension or having it become intelligence data.

The monsoon rains had filled the main washes and prevented access to the primary cutting roads along the border area (blue area of map). The Casa Grande agents still drove the ninety miles to get to the border although it was with expectations of just keeping a presence in the area.

Agents using cutting lights found sign that a group of seven or eight suspected illegal aliens had crossed one of the fences (beginning of red line on the map). A poor attempt had been made to "brush out" their tracks but it did not succeed in this instance.

The agents were determining the route of travel these crossers would take when another agent further to the North located a another set of tracks. These crossers had done a pretty good job of selecting a rocky point to cross the road. One person in the group made a mistake and stepped outside of the selected crossing area. He left the outline of a partial heel print which caught the eye of the agent. A quick comparison of the two groups determined that they were in fact the same. A lot of time had just been saved and a quick apprehension was now expected.

The agent to the North began to follow the tracks on foot while the other units began to travel to the area from the South. One two-man unit would try to get close to the agent on foot so another tracker could be put out on the sign to ensure officer safety. Two units (three agents in two vehicles) would try to stay within the line of travel of the groups and pressure them into laying up so the trackers can come in from behind and make the apprehension (yellow lines on map).

The terrain was rocky which made for slow tracking but all indications were that the group was walking at night. The tracks eventually led the agents to a deep wash where the crossers had to drop ten feet to get to the bottom. There was no indication that anyone had dropped anything to show that they were carrying any contraband. No resting spots were found that could be used to place the subjects within a time frame. Body waste, drink containers, food remnants, ashes from a campfire, and outlines of large bundles can give an agent a rough idea of how close they were to group or if they are carrying contraband. The lack of resting areas could also mean that the agents were hot on the trail of the crossers.

The evidence showed that this group consisted of undocumented aliens trying to enter into the United States. The bullet proof vests worn by the agents and the limited visibility reminded them that they were at a disadvantage because the group would be able to see their lights before they themselves could spot the group. Safety would still be the number one rule of this night.

The tracks crossed another road and this time the crossers selected a very rocky spot in which to cross. The group of suspected illegal immigrants had just made it past the first area of containment. The agent on foot now met up with one of the Border Patrol units. Two agents were now on the sign and they could work together to move the sign quickly. The two mobile units shifted to cover the new route of travel (dark green lines).

The tracking remained difficult but the two agents were able to work as a team and keep the trail going at a brisk walk. The agents on foot came up to another small wash and the tracks began to move North. The next moment was filled with the sound of brush breaking ahead. This indicated that the group had spotted the agent's flashlights and had began to run into the night. The agents began to run towards the sounds being made in hope of catching some of the people at the tail end of the group. They came upon the place that had been chosen as a rest area by the group and scattered throughout the wash were burlap backpacks.

The agents stopped to secure the area and the contraband. They contacted the other units to ensure that they were aware of this turn of events and now had to figure out where they were in relation to the closest road. This would get needed support into the area in case the mules decided to return and try to re-claim their narcotics. A quick check determined that they were within thirty yards of a main road and the other agents were quickly brought into the area. This area was probably the meeting place where they intended to transfer the back packs into the bed of a truck. The presence of the Border Patrol vehicles in the area delayed their plans long enough to make this a victory for the agents.

It had been difficult to track the group as they walked together through the desert. It would be extremely difficult to follow a separated group of running people through the desert. A determination was made to turn the information over to the oncoming shift and let them cover the areas of departure to the South. Seven backpacks were found and they held 436 pounds of marijuana.

The position of a Border Patrol Agent is a law enforcement career that is based on a pro-active form of enforcement. Agents actively seek illegal activity and may be assigned to work in a very remote area where the next available backup unit may be thirty minutes to an hour away. The agents rely on each other and their training to see that they make it home safely on a daily basis.

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