For those living near the U.S.-Mexico border, outbreaks of violence have become a daily occurrence. Drug cartels in Mexico are fighting one another and the Mexican government in an effort to show their strength and dominate the drug trade. Mexico is a main route for drugs into the U.S., and the drug trade is a $25 billion industry. With so much at stake, drug dealers have begun looking for ways to make it easier to get illegal drugs and immigrants into the U.S. They are finding help from surprising sources.
Martha Garnica was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent for 12 years. She worked at Ysleta international bridge, between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. In 1997, her first year on the job, officials began investigating her as part of a conspiracy to smuggle marijuana into the U.S. The investigation went nowhere. In 2005, Garnica again fell under suspicion when a van carrying 531 pounds of marijuana tried to enter the country using her lane. This investigation also failed to turn up any information.
In 2009, the agency got its big break. A fellow employee code-named Angel said that he felt Garnica was trying to bring him into the smuggling ring. Angel struck up a friendship with Garnica. He met with her boyfriend, whom Garnica called a drug trafficker. After passing a series of Garnica's tests, Angel was asked to help smuggle in 160 pounds of marijuana. The truck was stopped after crossing into the U.S., and a secret grand jury indicted Garnica. She was charged with drug smuggling, human trafficking and bribery.
Increase in Border Agent Corruption
While this is only one story of corruption, it is one of many. Officials say that the number of corruption cases opened against Customs and Border agents have risen from 245 in 2006 to over 770 this year. Most of these cases involve drugs, guns or people being smuggled into the U.S. Drug dealers and human traffickers look for those most vulnerable, those who need more money now. The lure of easy money becomes too much to turn down, and the agents become trapped into a double life.
Martha Garnica's double life has resulted in federal prison. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to her crimes. Even though she is behind bars, it is believed that many more agents are still allowing illegal drugs into the country. As violence on the border persists, drug dealers will continue to look for a safe passage for drugs, guns and immigrants.
