Same Story, Better Result
[Guest post by DRJ]
This isn’t Ramos and Compean but it certainly sounds familiar:
“A Border Patrol agent in a skybox spotted people smuggling large bundles across the Rio Grande in Fabens and placing them in a Chevrolet Suburban, leading to the seizure of 667 pounds of marijuana Saturday, agency officials said.
Border Patrol agents chased the SUV, which turned back toward the river. The driver and a passenger abandoned the vehicle and tried to run back to Mexico, but were arrested in a cotton field. Border Patrol agents also seized more than a half-ton of marijuana in seven other weekend seizures.”
I haven’t heard the term skybox before except, of course, in connection with sporting events. This article describes a skybox as a “a high-tech watchtower equipped with sophisticated surveillance equipment.” The Border Patrol apparently has a skybox in the Fabens district now.
I’m glad the Border Patrol has decided it’s acceptable to chase suspected drug smugglers in Fabens. I hope the agents are better trained and able to follow procedures that protect both them and the people with whom they come in contact. I’m especially glad these smugglers were arrested … and that they were the only ones arrested.
– DRJ
First off, thank you for another excellent post, DRJ.
Second, well … I am still bothered that we cannot shoot invaders on sight.
Comment by nk — 9/18/2007 @ 8:25 pm
Apparently the smugglers were a little hazy on processing the news that the Border Patrol had a skybox in the Faben district as well. Or maybe they thought the person manning the box was supposed to be looking the other way. But offloading 667 lbs. of weed within even enhanced eyeball range of a Border Patrol skybox is dumb.
I will say that the technology I see in the film from Iraq is impressive and while all the technology in the world won’t stunt demand for drugs… it is a start.
On an economic border note, nothing will ever stop illegal immigration as well as a strong Mexican economy will. So I’m all for helping our neighbors find a way besides drug smuggling and “selling cheap shit you don’t need” to get it done.
(hat tip George Lopez) for his riff on latinos don’t need welfare, we’d rather sell you cheap shit you don’t need… a riff anybody who has lived in Southern California can laugh about. Bags of oranges, toys, roses. Guy pushing the elote cart trying to dodge the health inspector even though he has 300 foil balloons tied to the cart along with the steamed corn and three day old mayonnaise. My wife seems to think the chile powder and lime keeps the mayo fresh… or not.
Comment by SteveG — 9/18/2007 @ 8:44 pm
If we could get the UN (OK, let’s not laugh ourselves silly here) to declare smuggling of all types a crime against humanity, then, maybe, we could shoot them on sight.
Comment by Another Drew — 9/18/2007 @ 9:25 pm
NK,
Thank you. I think we must have similar blogging interests.
Comment by DRJ — 9/18/2007 @ 9:58 pm
I am still bothered that we cannot shoot invaders on sight.
You and the Taliban.
Comment by Phil — 9/19/2007 @ 5:12 am
A link for the context-challenged. Search for Ramos Compean on this site’s search engine for many, many more.
Comment by nk — 9/19/2007 @ 7:49 am