Woman Unknowingly Ferried Drugs Across The Border

San Diego narcotic detectives investigating the incident suspect an unnamed 33-year-old woman was a victim of a drug mule scam when she reported witnessing two unknown men approach and try to remove items from her vehicle’s undercarriage an hour after her regular commute from Mexico to San Diego,where she works.

Around 4 am Friday, the motorist was sitting in her parked car, having arrived at work early, when the men approached. According to her statement, she startled the two men who ran back to a black sedan and fled.

After contacting the police, she was informed she had unknowingly smuggled nearly 30 pounds of marijuana across the US border, secured to her car in six bundles with powerful magnets and placed there before she trekked into the states.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are uncertain who exactly attached the drugs to the woman’s car. Narcotics detectives want to remind drivers to check their vehicle before crossing the border to ensure it’s free of illegal or unknown items.

It has been suggested drug cartels may be involved as they target students and professionals who regularly cross the border.

Anyone with a consistent routine can easily become an unwitting drug mule and be tracked with GPS or tailed after the packages are attached.

Last year, CNN reported a similar circumstance in the case of Juan Andres (his real name changed to protect the identity of the young man in his 30s). Unfortunately, Andres wasn’t as lucky as the unidentified woman.

Andres previously commuted three-and-a-half miles from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to the University of Texas in El Paso every weekday to study music education.

Andres had to undergo a rigorous background check with US Customs and Border Protection in order to receive a special clearance, permitting an easier border-crossing with a SENTRI pass (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection). The SENTRI allows the pass-holder to waive the standard vehicle check.

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Applicants are fingerprinted, complete an in-person interview with a Customs and Border Protection officer, and cannot have a previous criminal history. If the applicant is seen to pose little to no risk for illegally transporting drugs and weapons, they are given the easy pass. SENTRI pass holders can use dedicated lanes when crossing the border and have to comply with specific requirements.

The problem is the law-abiding students and professionals who regularly cross the border are targeted by Mexican drug cartels. In Ciudad Juarez, agent for the violent cartels scout for potential victims in crowded areas like malls.

In November 2010, Andres unknowingly fell victim to drug trafficking as he was randomly selected for inspection by border control while crossing the Stanton Street Bridge. Customs and Border Protection agents found two black duffle bags of marijuana in the trunk of his 2007 Ford Focus.

Without evidence of tampering, the young man was arrested, detained, and interrogated on the US side of the border. Andres was charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute and spent six months in US jail awaiting trial. He continued to profess his innocence.

The following May, Andres was found guilty by a jury of possession and intent to distribute marijuana and faced up to three years in prison. Had he had a criminal record, he could’ve been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Three days after his conviction, Andres was called back to court for a status hearing, where he discovered his attorney had filed a motion for an acquittal. A pattern of similar cases persuaded the judge in the case to insist the prosecution investigate further. The case against Andres was eventually dismissed and he was released.

The scam works through a network, targeting innocent drivers with SENTRI passes. Lookouts are paid to monitor their habits, recording the make, model, and color of their cars, and the times of day they pass over the border.

Once a consistent routine is established, the criminals find an opportunity to copy the vehicle identification number (VIN) and some plant GPS on the car. The VIN number aided in circumventing the key code access, as any trained locksmith can use the information to produce a key. The keys are used to access the trunk of the target car the night before, marijuana in duffle bags are deposited inside, and the conspirators wait until the unsuspecting “blind mule” driver carries the package across the border. The drugs are then retrieved on the US side.

[Image via Shutterstock]