Two El Paso college students facing drug smuggling charges after responding to a job ad on social media have been arrested at the border, authorities said.
According to U.S. law enforcement officials, Mexican drug cartels have long used the tactic of recruiting “mules” among border commuters to transport drugs over international bridges. The students claimed they were hired to transport money from Juárez to El Paso, but a hidden load of fentanyl was discovered in their car on March 26 at the Bridge of the Americas.
Both the man and woman, who were arrested by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, are facing state charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. They are currently being held in the El Paso County Jail, where they could potentially face a minimum 15-year prison sentence under Texas’ strict fentanyl laws.
In recent months, there has been an increase in similar arrests of individuals who unknowingly transport drugs after responding to job postings on social media platforms like Facebook, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso.
The students, who are Juárez residents with student visas, regularly cross the border to attend school in El Paso. Despite not having criminal records, they found themselves in a dangerous situation that was difficult to escape once it was set in motion, their defense attorney stated.
The students claimed they had responded to a job ad on Facebook to transport money to El Paso, meeting with a recruiter at a restaurant in Juárez. They left their car keys with the recruiter, who took the vehicle to install a GPS device for “security reasons” before having them drive to El Paso.
During a border inspection, a scan detected anomalies in the car’s back doors, leading to the discovery and seizure of over a pound of fentanyl. The exact amount of the drug was not disclosed, and the case remains pending in court.
Drug cartels are known to recruit students, businesspeople, and frequent border crossers to transport drugs hidden among the daily traffic at the border. The allure of “easy money” can lead individuals to overlook red flags and signs of illegal activity, which is not a defense in court, as warned by HSI officials.
Individuals caught smuggling drugs at the border can face severe consequences, including criminal charges, loss of immigration status, and deportation. The Department of Homeland Security keeps records of those associated with drug smuggling attempts, leading to increased scrutiny and intensified inspections upon future entries into the U.S.
In case of any information regarding smuggling activities, individuals are encouraged to call the HSI tip line at 866-347-2423. The significant repercussions of drug smuggling underscore the importance of being cautious and informed when responding to job offers on social media platforms.
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