1 00:00:08,867 --> 00:00:11,266 [narrator] The San Ysidro port of entry 2 00:00:11,266 --> 00:00:13,100 is the busiest land border crossing 3 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:14,600 in the Western Hemisphere. 4 00:00:16,166 --> 00:00:19,867 Every day, 90,000 people pass through it. 5 00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:21,567 [officer] Are you bringing back anything from Mexico? 6 00:00:22,567 --> 00:00:24,266 No fruits or vegetables, alcohol, tobacco today? 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:26,867 No, not today? All right. 8 00:00:27,867 --> 00:00:30,367 Officers have the authority to question 9 00:00:30,367 --> 00:00:31,900 and stop any traveler. 10 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:34,066 [Cortez] You mind opening the trunk? 11 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:40,600 Being here at the border, 12 00:00:40,767 --> 00:00:42,200 it's not like civilian police departments 13 00:00:42,367 --> 00:00:44,200 where you're gonna need a little bit more 14 00:00:44,367 --> 00:00:45,467 to go inside the vehicle. 15 00:00:45,467 --> 00:00:47,400 We have border search authority. 16 00:00:47,567 --> 00:00:49,800 This afternoon, a woman and her friend 17 00:00:49,967 --> 00:00:53,567 returning from Mexico have been selected for a routine check. 18 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:07,767 It's not long before the K-9 19 00:01:07,934 --> 00:01:10,800 leads Officer Bumphus to an area under the hood. 20 00:01:16,967 --> 00:01:19,467 So my dog was alerting under the vehicle, 21 00:01:19,467 --> 00:01:21,567 like towards the front end of the vehicle. 22 00:01:21,734 --> 00:01:23,266 So we're checking it out right now. 23 00:01:52,467 --> 00:01:54,767 A secret compartment is stuffed full 24 00:01:54,934 --> 00:01:57,166 of what looks like prescription medication. 25 00:02:02,767 --> 00:02:04,166 [officer over radio] K-9 to secondary. 26 00:02:04,333 --> 00:02:05,467 We found something. 27 00:02:05,467 --> 00:02:06,767 -Mike, Mike. -Go ahead. 28 00:02:06,934 --> 00:02:07,867 Powder. 29 00:02:07,867 --> 00:02:09,467 Are we gonna be taken to jail? 30 00:02:09,467 --> 00:02:11,000 We have to do what we have to do. 31 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:29,100 [officer speaking] 32 00:02:31,467 --> 00:02:32,800 US citizen, sir? 33 00:02:32,967 --> 00:02:34,667 Look at the camera here, take a step back. 34 00:02:34,834 --> 00:02:38,367 On any given day, there are over 2 million outstanding 35 00:02:38,367 --> 00:02:41,166 arrest warrants for wanted criminals in the US. 36 00:02:41,166 --> 00:02:42,900 You need one ID or two IDs? 37 00:02:43,066 --> 00:02:44,200 No, no, no, I don't need the military one. 38 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,266 -OK, that's the -- -Sir, look at the camera, please. 39 00:02:46,266 --> 00:02:48,567 Everyone returning from Mexico... 40 00:02:48,734 --> 00:02:50,200 Thank you for your service, all right? 41 00:02:50,367 --> 00:02:52,467 ...is subject to a background check. 42 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:58,100 This afternoon, a woman coming home after a day trip 43 00:02:58,266 --> 00:03:00,100 to Progreso has been stopped. 44 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:06,567 So we had a pedestrian traveling from 45 00:03:06,734 --> 00:03:10,300 Progreso, Mexico, and -- through pedestrian. 46 00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:14,300 And the subject came out as a positive for a warrant. 47 00:03:15,266 --> 00:03:18,166 Right now, there's no information about what crime 48 00:03:18,333 --> 00:03:19,800 the woman is wanted for. 49 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:29,166 In her case, I asked her if she was ever been detained, 50 00:03:29,333 --> 00:03:32,367 had trouble with the law enforcement at any time. 51 00:03:32,533 --> 00:03:33,533 She said, "No." 52 00:03:33,533 --> 00:03:36,600 She said she also has family members that work 53 00:03:36,767 --> 00:03:39,300 for the PD in Fort Worth, Texas. 54 00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:41,600 So that's irrelevant for us because a human being is 55 00:03:41,767 --> 00:03:42,834 a human being. 56 00:03:42,834 --> 00:03:45,467 Officer Marin runs the woman's fingerprints... 57 00:03:45,633 --> 00:03:46,867 [Marin] There we go. Go like this. 58 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:49,066 But keep this right here. 59 00:03:49,233 --> 00:03:51,867 ...to check that her ID matches the warrant. 60 00:03:56,367 --> 00:03:57,467 [Marin] Thank you, ma'am. 61 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,667 Information soon comes through from the issuing authority, 62 00:04:10,667 --> 00:04:13,266 which is in another county 500 miles away. 63 00:04:14,567 --> 00:04:17,367 It did confirm for an outstanding warrant 64 00:04:17,367 --> 00:04:20,667 out of Gainesville, Texas for larceny, 65 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:24,667 which was inputted back in November of last year. 66 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:27,867 OK, ma'am, you can step back. 67 00:04:27,867 --> 00:04:30,400 You can put your shoes on right here and then 68 00:04:31,567 --> 00:04:34,467 give your items to your husband right now. 69 00:04:34,633 --> 00:04:35,767 While they wait to find out 70 00:04:35,934 --> 00:04:38,066 whether Gainesville PD wants to arrest her, 71 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,567 Officer Marin allows the woman to speak 72 00:04:41,567 --> 00:04:42,667 with her husband. 73 00:04:43,567 --> 00:04:45,166 Sir? Your wife? 74 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:47,767 You may speak to her if you need to. 75 00:04:47,934 --> 00:04:49,200 She wanted to give you the belongings. 76 00:04:49,367 --> 00:04:52,266 [husband and suspect speaking] 77 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,567 So did the supervisor speak to you already? 78 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:02,567 [Marin] So here's the thing, OK? 79 00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:05,166 She came out as a positive for a warrant, 80 00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:07,667 an outstanding warrant out of Gainesville, Texas. 81 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:10,467 [Marin] For larceny. 82 00:05:13,900 --> 00:05:15,000 OK. 83 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,900 -She said she's never -- -[husband speaking] 84 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:25,300 Like I'm saying, you have a job? Do you work? 85 00:05:26,266 --> 00:05:27,467 OK. So you do your job. 86 00:05:27,633 --> 00:05:28,967 We're just doing our job. That's it. 87 00:05:29,133 --> 00:05:30,166 We're going [indistinct]. 88 00:05:30,333 --> 00:05:31,900 -[husband speaking] -Right. 89 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,500 Right, she informed me about that. 90 00:05:37,266 --> 00:05:38,467 You know -- 91 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,100 We've seen -- we've seen everything, 92 00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:44,200 and occupation, title, that's irrelevant 93 00:05:44,367 --> 00:05:46,000 to who gets arrested, who doesn't. 94 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,467 But I understand where you're coming from. 95 00:05:48,467 --> 00:05:50,000 I'm just letting you know this is your opportunity 96 00:05:50,166 --> 00:05:51,200 to speak to her right now. 97 00:05:57,100 --> 00:05:58,567 [suspect speaking] 98 00:06:00,567 --> 00:06:02,567 [Marin] I was reading her body language, 99 00:06:02,567 --> 00:06:04,300 and he was kind of like, "What?" 100 00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:07,166 And she was like, "The check." 101 00:06:24,266 --> 00:06:25,967 At the San Ysidro crossing... 102 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,867 ...a woman and her friend returning to the US 103 00:06:36,033 --> 00:06:37,000 have been detained 104 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,667 after a search of their vehicle, 105 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:42,900 uncovered medication hidden in the dashboard. 106 00:06:45,367 --> 00:06:47,066 [Bumphus] It should be an airbag in here. 107 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:51,100 So an officer pulled this up, 108 00:06:51,266 --> 00:06:55,000 and there's a bunch of medicine back in here. 109 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,300 The contraband consists of packets of diet pills 110 00:06:58,467 --> 00:07:01,100 and bottles of medicated shampoo. 111 00:07:01,266 --> 00:07:03,166 [Bumphus] And there's medicine also in here. 112 00:07:05,300 --> 00:07:08,867 The two women entered the border in the fast lane, 113 00:07:08,867 --> 00:07:12,000 used only for pre-vetted drivers holding a SENTRI pass. 114 00:07:24,867 --> 00:07:28,467 The amount smuggled in is assigned to Supervisor Walker. 115 00:07:28,633 --> 00:07:30,266 It's not for personal use. 116 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,367 The car is taken to a secure area where Officer Rauk 117 00:07:57,533 --> 00:07:59,100 will carry out a thorough search. 118 00:08:01,567 --> 00:08:03,400 Dashboards are a pretty common concealing method. 119 00:08:03,567 --> 00:08:05,166 People will just create these little areas to hide stuff 120 00:08:05,333 --> 00:08:07,200 so they can smuggle things through. 121 00:08:07,367 --> 00:08:09,266 This right here is, like, people use for weight loss. 122 00:08:09,433 --> 00:08:11,200 It's a Schedule Four controlled substance. 123 00:08:12,467 --> 00:08:14,600 I think these people use it for, like, weight loss and different things, 124 00:08:14,767 --> 00:08:16,567 or at least I hope it's just for that. 125 00:08:16,567 --> 00:08:20,100 This weight-loss drug is popular in Mexico, 126 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:22,500 but not approved for use in the US, 127 00:08:22,667 --> 00:08:25,300 creating a black market for smuggled pills. 128 00:08:26,367 --> 00:08:28,500 [Rauk] I don't know how much more is in here, so I'll have to check 129 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:30,500 in the dashboard over and see if there's anything else 130 00:08:30,667 --> 00:08:31,900 hidden anywhere else. 131 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,367 It's shampoo. I guess it's some sort 132 00:08:35,533 --> 00:08:37,633 of medical shampoo, I have no idea. 133 00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:41,300 I don't know if it's in under here. 134 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:44,266 Actually -- oh, it is. Yeah, so it's all in here too. 135 00:08:44,433 --> 00:08:45,667 So I'll have to open all this up. 136 00:09:08,467 --> 00:09:10,467 2 OK, ma'am, you can step out. 137 00:09:10,633 --> 00:09:12,567 You can put your shoes on. 138 00:09:12,567 --> 00:09:16,400 In Progreso, a woman returning home from a day trip to Mexico 139 00:09:16,567 --> 00:09:18,100 has been detained 140 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:21,066 because she has a warrant out for larceny. 141 00:09:21,233 --> 00:09:22,700 Whenever she had the opportunity to give 142 00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:24,867 her belongings to her husband, 143 00:09:24,867 --> 00:09:28,100 she was trying to whisper something to him. 144 00:09:28,266 --> 00:09:30,100 I was reading her body language, 145 00:09:30,266 --> 00:09:34,700 and he was kind of like, "What?" And she was like, "The check." 146 00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:37,266 Was that check that y'all talking about in November? 147 00:09:37,266 --> 00:09:40,000 -[husband speaking] -Mm-hmm. 148 00:09:40,166 --> 00:09:42,066 [suspect and husband speaking]- 149 00:09:42,233 --> 00:09:43,467 '22, '23. 150 00:09:48,567 --> 00:09:51,867 The couple paid a man to do some work on their property. 151 00:09:52,033 --> 00:09:54,367 They wrote a check, which bounced. 152 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,467 [husband speaking] 153 00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:09,467 Thank you. OK, perfect. 154 00:10:09,467 --> 00:10:10,734 Thank you. Have a good day. 155 00:10:12,467 --> 00:10:15,767 The Hidalgo Sheriff's Office confirms that they will be 156 00:10:15,934 --> 00:10:18,967 coming to arrest the woman before extraditing her back 157 00:10:19,133 --> 00:10:21,567 to the county that issued the warrant. 158 00:10:21,567 --> 00:10:23,500 [Marin] We only have so much information. 159 00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:25,467 Right now, when Hidalgo County arrives, 160 00:10:25,633 --> 00:10:27,467 if she has any further questions, 161 00:10:27,633 --> 00:10:29,500 because they're actually the ones who are gonna take over, 162 00:10:29,667 --> 00:10:31,266 could ask -- she could ask them. 163 00:10:34,767 --> 00:10:36,667 [Marin] Like I said, they're gonna answer your -- 164 00:10:36,834 --> 00:10:37,800 your questions. 165 00:10:57,266 --> 00:10:59,367 Ma'am, can you give him the purse and then -- 166 00:10:59,533 --> 00:11:01,100 Sir, do you want to give her a last hug 167 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:02,800 before they pick her up, you know? 168 00:11:02,967 --> 00:11:05,567 No, but I mean, as a husband and wife, 169 00:11:05,734 --> 00:11:07,700 I'm pretty sure you want to give her a hug. 170 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:09,700 You know, we're human beings -- yeah, right there. 171 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:22,467 [husband] All right. 172 00:11:24,567 --> 00:11:26,367 -You're good. -[suspect] I know. 173 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:29,667 All right. 174 00:11:30,467 --> 00:11:34,100 An officer from Hidalgo County arrives to make their arrest. 175 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,700 -Need a copy of this too. -Yes sir. 176 00:11:39,567 --> 00:11:42,467 -Step on out, he's gonna give you instructions, OK? -[suspect] OK. 177 00:11:42,467 --> 00:11:43,500 Hello ma'am. 178 00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:45,667 -Are you [bleep]? -[suspect] Yes. 179 00:11:45,667 --> 00:11:47,567 I'm picking you up because you got a warrant 180 00:11:47,734 --> 00:11:49,700 out of Cooke County. 181 00:11:49,867 --> 00:11:52,000 So, we'll take you into custody to our county jail 182 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,600 and they'll pick you up from our county jail 183 00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:56,900 and take you back to Cooke County, OK? 184 00:11:57,066 --> 00:11:59,133 So I'm gonna put the cuffs on you. 185 00:12:01,667 --> 00:12:03,867 -Thank you, sir. Have a good one. -Thank you very much. 186 00:12:04,767 --> 00:12:07,200 According to her, she never had a criminal record, 187 00:12:07,367 --> 00:12:10,467 never been arrested, never had to do a pat-down before. 188 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,467 But anyways, wish her the best and remember, 189 00:12:15,467 --> 00:12:17,567 learn your lesson and stay out of trouble. 190 00:12:38,767 --> 00:12:43,100 Every day, around 10,000 people cross the Camino Real bridge. 191 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:51,000 Among the travelers are paqueteros, unofficial couriers 192 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,967 carrying goods across the southern border. 193 00:12:54,133 --> 00:12:56,834 [officers and traveler speaking in Spanish] 194 00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:03,100 Although lucrative work, it comes with a risk because 195 00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:06,367 the drivers are rarely aware of what they're bringing in. 196 00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:12,266 Yeah, we want to scan all of it. 197 00:13:12,433 --> 00:13:15,700 Today, a courier entering into Mexico with a trailer 198 00:13:15,867 --> 00:13:18,000 has been sent to secondary inspection. 199 00:13:21,667 --> 00:13:23,166 [Ruiz] This driver was coming from Houston, 200 00:13:23,333 --> 00:13:25,066 headed to Guanajuato, Mexico. 201 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:28,266 We selected him because he had a lot of merchandise 202 00:13:28,433 --> 00:13:31,033 that he's taking to Mexico for other people. 203 00:13:33,467 --> 00:13:37,367 The Mexican drug cartels are known to hide cash and guns 204 00:13:37,533 --> 00:13:39,100 in paqueteros cargo. 205 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,266 [officer speaking Spanish] 206 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:45,700 Suspicious that the trailer may contain contraband, 207 00:13:45,867 --> 00:13:48,667 officers put the whole shipment through an X-ray machine. 208 00:13:55,667 --> 00:13:56,867 Nothing yet. 209 00:13:57,033 --> 00:13:58,900 [dog barking] 210 00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:08,266 But it's not long before the X-ray reveals 211 00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:09,600 a suspicious outline. 212 00:14:11,567 --> 00:14:13,667 And it looks like we have one firearm 213 00:14:13,667 --> 00:14:15,600 and some ammunition in this box. 214 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:36,266 It looks like we have the firearm here 215 00:14:36,266 --> 00:14:38,300 and ammunition in this boot. 216 00:14:39,767 --> 00:14:42,200 The man is immediately detained, 217 00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:48,166 while Officer Ruiz examines the concealment method. 218 00:14:48,166 --> 00:14:52,400 Could be for the X-ray. Could be for the K-9. 219 00:14:52,567 --> 00:14:55,266 Try to hide the smell or the odor of the firearm. 220 00:14:55,266 --> 00:14:57,367 That way our K-9 doesn't hit on it. 221 00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:58,967 But in this case, 222 00:14:59,133 --> 00:15:00,867 we were able to locate it using the X-ray. 223 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,033 Let's just check everything. 224 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:09,400 Because Mexico has strict laws 225 00:15:09,567 --> 00:15:11,600 preventing the purchase of guns, 226 00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:15,667 every year, around 150,000 firearms are smuggled 227 00:15:15,834 --> 00:15:18,400 into the country by criminal gangs. 228 00:15:18,567 --> 00:15:20,000 [Ruiz] So the gentleman's claiming that he didn't know 229 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,233 about the firearm. 230 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:26,166 One, he can be facing charges. His vehicle can be seized. 231 00:15:26,166 --> 00:15:27,900 There's a lot of different scenarios, but right now 232 00:15:28,066 --> 00:15:30,700 we have to wait for HSI to see if they're going to want to do 233 00:15:30,867 --> 00:15:33,967 further investigation on this or take him from there. 234 00:15:34,133 --> 00:15:37,600 Smuggling a hidden weapon is a serious crime. 235 00:15:37,767 --> 00:15:40,200 Homeland Security Investigations will question 236 00:15:40,367 --> 00:15:43,300 the man further to decide whether to prosecute. 237 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,567 2 In San Diego, two women have been detained 238 00:15:59,734 --> 00:16:03,000 after a search of their car revealed a hidden compartment 239 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,000 stuffed full of prescription medication. 240 00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:08,567 [Rauk] I don't know if it's in under here -- actually, oh, it is. 241 00:16:08,567 --> 00:16:09,767 Yeah, so it's all in here, too. 242 00:16:10,767 --> 00:16:12,100 There's a lot more hidden 243 00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:14,967 than Officer Rauk initially thought. 244 00:16:15,133 --> 00:16:16,500 [Rauk] So I'll have to open all this up. 245 00:16:38,667 --> 00:16:40,700 -Yeah, so it's -- -How far does it go? 246 00:16:40,867 --> 00:16:43,567 [Rauk] Um, actually, it looks like it stops right here. 247 00:16:43,567 --> 00:16:46,467 So I saw it's about right in here -- that or -- that way. 248 00:16:48,266 --> 00:16:49,367 It goes all the way down. 249 00:16:55,300 --> 00:16:56,400 I've never seen this before, 250 00:16:56,567 --> 00:16:58,100 so I'm not sure what kind of shampoo it is. 251 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:01,400 So I'll have to look it up. 252 00:17:06,967 --> 00:17:09,867 This anti-dandruff shampoo isn't prohibited, 253 00:17:09,867 --> 00:17:12,100 but bringing in large commercial amounts 254 00:17:12,266 --> 00:17:15,066 without declaring it is against the law. 255 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:20,867 It's a hole down here on this side. 256 00:17:20,867 --> 00:17:22,400 -In here? -Under, yeah, through here. 257 00:17:25,467 --> 00:17:26,567 Ooh. 258 00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:32,266 I think that's all of it. 259 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:38,266 For smuggling shampoo, as well as the diet pills, 260 00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:41,567 the driver of the vehicle is facing a significant penalty, 261 00:17:41,734 --> 00:17:44,567 typically three times the value of what's found. 262 00:17:46,767 --> 00:17:50,066 Every pill and bottle must be counted. 263 00:17:50,233 --> 00:17:51,667 [Rauk] All right, this might take a little while. 264 00:18:05,266 --> 00:18:06,900 So, each one of these has 20, 265 00:18:07,066 --> 00:18:10,767 so 20 times 15, times all this, 266 00:18:10,934 --> 00:18:12,567 it's gonna be a decent amount of money. 267 00:18:16,300 --> 00:18:18,266 All right, so that should be 20 right there. 268 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,000 I highly doubt they need to lose this much weight. 269 00:18:25,166 --> 00:18:27,467 So they're gonna probably sell to someone, 270 00:18:27,633 --> 00:18:29,000 some market somewhere, or somewhere. 271 00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:33,667 A packet of diet pills bought in Mexico for $16 272 00:18:33,667 --> 00:18:37,166 could sell for twice as much on the black market. 273 00:18:37,166 --> 00:18:40,300 But taking them comes with risks, because the pills 274 00:18:40,467 --> 00:18:42,900 contain the appetite suppressant phentermine, 275 00:18:43,066 --> 00:18:46,867 and long-term use can lead to drug dependency. 276 00:18:46,867 --> 00:18:50,166 People can abuse this substance, so people buying this, like, 277 00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:52,867 off the street or some market somewhere or from someone, 278 00:18:52,867 --> 00:18:55,967 they can be abused, and it can, like, you know, it can cause people issues, 279 00:18:56,133 --> 00:18:58,000 so people are taking too much of this medication, 280 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,266 they could have a serious medical condition. 281 00:19:00,266 --> 00:19:06,667 In total, 11,400 pills are counted alongside 260 bottles 282 00:19:06,667 --> 00:19:11,567 of shampoo, adding up to a retail value of over $10,000. 283 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:16,100 [Rauk] We're gonna get her into our office here, 284 00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,667 issue her the penalty. She can make two choices. 285 00:19:18,834 --> 00:19:20,867 She can either agree to pay the penalty or contest it. 286 00:19:23,166 --> 00:19:26,600 So, um, you had a bunch of medication in your vehicle, OK? 287 00:19:26,767 --> 00:19:28,033 [driver speaking] 288 00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:32,000 So, um, since you concealed the medication and you didn't 289 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,500 declare it, we do have to issue a penalty today, OK? 290 00:19:34,667 --> 00:19:36,500 This is your first offense doing this, 291 00:19:36,667 --> 00:19:38,500 so we're going to go ahead and mitigate, OK? 292 00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:41,066 Since it's the woman's first time being caught, 293 00:19:41,233 --> 00:19:44,100 her fine is reduced to $2,500. 294 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,166 [Rauk] You want to contest it? 295 00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:51,567 Despite owning the vehicle, the woman denies all knowledge 296 00:19:51,734 --> 00:19:54,200 of the medication and says she will be 297 00:19:54,367 --> 00:19:55,567 appealing her charge. 298 00:19:57,867 --> 00:19:59,900 I would say do it in three days, the sooner the better. 299 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:02,567 -That's your copy, OK. -OK. 300 00:20:02,567 --> 00:20:04,100 -And then I'll get your friend, OK? -OK. 301 00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:07,367 Outside, her friend is also facing punishment. 302 00:20:08,567 --> 00:20:11,967 The loss of her Trusted Traveler status. 303 00:20:12,133 --> 00:20:13,667 Since you're traveling with her and you're both smuggling 304 00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:16,767 medication across the border, your SENTRIs are being lifted. 305 00:20:18,266 --> 00:20:20,567 Yes, since you're both crossed and then... 306 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,667 [Rauk] Her vehicle had a lot of concealed medication, 307 00:20:24,834 --> 00:20:26,767 so she was issued a penalty and all medication that was 308 00:20:26,934 --> 00:20:28,300 concealed within the vehicle was seized. 309 00:20:29,500 --> 00:20:31,066 You don't understand that there was medication concealed 310 00:20:31,233 --> 00:20:32,400 within her dashboard. 311 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,266 We're informing you right now that there was medication 312 00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:35,700 within the vehicle. -[passenger] Something. 313 00:20:35,867 --> 00:20:36,967 Yes, and we're telling you right now that there's 314 00:20:36,967 --> 00:20:38,767 medication within the vehicle. You're good to go, OK? 315 00:20:39,867 --> 00:20:42,166 This woman has escaped a heavy fine, 316 00:20:42,333 --> 00:20:45,600 but both travelers have lost their SENTRI cards, 317 00:20:45,767 --> 00:20:48,667 adding hours to their future border crossings. 318 00:21:11,467 --> 00:21:15,166 In Eagle Pass, a courier has been detained after being 319 00:21:15,166 --> 00:21:17,367 caught smuggling a weapon into Mexico. 320 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,567 [Ruiz] So the gentleman's claiming that he didn't know 321 00:21:20,734 --> 00:21:21,967 about the firearm. 322 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:26,700 One, he can be facing charges. His vehicle can be seized. 323 00:21:26,867 --> 00:21:28,567 There's a lot of different scenarios, but right now 324 00:21:28,567 --> 00:21:31,300 we have to wait for HSI to see if they're gonna wanna do 325 00:21:31,467 --> 00:21:35,000 further investigation on this or take him from there. 326 00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:39,500 These are 40 and this firearm is 40 as well. 327 00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:41,266 So, yes, these rounds are for this pistol. 328 00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:46,266 They don't check the merchandise that they're taking into Mexico, 329 00:21:46,266 --> 00:21:48,100 so it makes it easier for somebody 330 00:21:48,266 --> 00:21:51,000 to send something illegal like this. 331 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,667 Only one pistol was found, but that alone can be sold for 332 00:21:54,834 --> 00:21:57,300 hundreds of dollars on the black market in Mexico. 333 00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:00,400 We were able to seize one firearm, magazine 334 00:22:00,567 --> 00:22:04,166 and a total of 50 rounds, which is a good thing for us. 335 00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:06,900 Whatever reason they were using it for over there in Mexico, 336 00:22:07,066 --> 00:22:08,700 they were exporting it illegally. 337 00:22:09,767 --> 00:22:12,066 Since the courier has no prior history 338 00:22:12,233 --> 00:22:14,567 and claims no knowledge of the weapon, 339 00:22:14,734 --> 00:22:17,100 this time, he won't face any charges. 340 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,867 So, as of right now, HSI has deferred prosecution. 341 00:22:21,867 --> 00:22:23,367 Firearms are gonna stay here in our possession. 342 00:22:23,533 --> 00:22:25,767 They're gonna be seized, and the rest of the items that 343 00:22:25,767 --> 00:22:26,967 the gentleman was carrying with him, 344 00:22:27,133 --> 00:22:28,400 he's gonna be free to go with. 345 00:22:28,567 --> 00:22:30,400 But he's not completely in the clear. 346 00:22:30,567 --> 00:22:33,600 New laws created to crack down on cartel crime 347 00:22:33,767 --> 00:22:35,467 have recently been passed. 348 00:22:35,633 --> 00:22:36,667 The form this guy just signed -- 349 00:22:36,834 --> 00:22:38,567 essentially, the United States government 350 00:22:38,567 --> 00:22:41,467 has labeled the cartel a terrorist organization 351 00:22:41,467 --> 00:22:44,300 and this form, we have in English and Spanish, 352 00:22:44,467 --> 00:22:47,266 it says, if you have any affiliation and we find out 353 00:22:47,433 --> 00:22:50,400 you do, the law is going to go after you in full extent. 354 00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:53,166 They read this, they sign it, we find out through 355 00:22:53,166 --> 00:22:57,567 investigation that they have any affiliation to the cartel, 356 00:22:57,567 --> 00:22:58,867 they're going to jail. 357 00:22:58,867 --> 00:23:00,200 By signing the form, 358 00:23:00,367 --> 00:23:02,667 the driver is declaring his innocence. 359 00:23:02,834 --> 00:23:06,500 But if he's lying and later found to have cartel links, 360 00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:08,100 he could then be arrested. 361 00:23:09,567 --> 00:23:11,867 It wasn't a good thing that they were having this firearm 362 00:23:12,033 --> 00:23:13,266 hidden within these containers, 363 00:23:13,266 --> 00:23:14,800 and good thing we were able to get it. 364 00:23:23,867 --> 00:23:26,767 2 The Ambassador Bridge links Windsor, Canada, 365 00:23:26,767 --> 00:23:29,066 with Detroit, Michigan. 366 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:36,500 Every day, almost $320 million worth of goods from Canada 367 00:23:36,667 --> 00:23:38,800 cross in trucks bound for the US. 368 00:23:39,767 --> 00:23:42,200 How you doing, sir? Good afternoon. 369 00:23:44,667 --> 00:23:47,500 Officers are always on the lookout for anything 370 00:23:47,667 --> 00:23:49,200 illegal entering the country... 371 00:23:49,367 --> 00:23:50,867 I'm gonna send you through X-ray, OK? 372 00:23:50,867 --> 00:23:53,667 So, what you're gonna do is you're gonna stay to your right, 373 00:23:53,667 --> 00:23:56,767 go around, and then you're going to see a sign for X-ray. 374 00:23:56,934 --> 00:24:00,867 ...including agricultural items that could be carrying insects 375 00:24:00,867 --> 00:24:03,467 and pests harmful to US crops. 376 00:24:05,567 --> 00:24:08,133 All right, just come over. Right over here with me. 377 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:11,800 Right over here, sir. 378 00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:13,567 -I'm gonna have you bring your truck... -OK. 379 00:24:13,734 --> 00:24:15,467 -...pop your seal, open your door... -OK. 380 00:24:15,467 --> 00:24:16,867 ...back all the way to door number four. 381 00:24:16,867 --> 00:24:18,900 -Door number four. All right, sir, thanks. -OK. 382 00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:24,767 Today, agriculture specialist Garza is carrying out a series 383 00:24:24,767 --> 00:24:27,400 of spot checks on inbound trucks. 384 00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:30,100 He's called in container full of flowers. 385 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:32,700 Today, we're gonna be looking 386 00:24:32,867 --> 00:24:34,867 at some plants, plant commodities. 387 00:24:34,867 --> 00:24:37,266 We're gonna be looking for live mites, slugs, 388 00:24:37,266 --> 00:24:39,467 snails, plant diseases. 389 00:24:39,467 --> 00:24:42,100 These species can be harmful to America's agriculture. 390 00:24:42,266 --> 00:24:44,300 We're trying to do our best to safeguard that. 391 00:24:53,467 --> 00:24:55,100 Even though these flowers have come 392 00:24:55,266 --> 00:24:58,266 from a pest-controlled greenhouse in Canada, 393 00:24:58,266 --> 00:25:00,767 there could still be bugs hidden within. 394 00:25:03,166 --> 00:25:04,867 Let's see if we can find anything here. 395 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:08,867 Using his flashlight, Officer Garza begins 396 00:25:08,867 --> 00:25:10,867 the first step of his inspection. 397 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,667 He focuses on a cross-section of the shipment. 398 00:25:29,300 --> 00:25:31,867 I don't see anything so far. 399 00:25:32,033 --> 00:25:35,000 Any track marks, any bite marks, or anything just that 400 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,967 stands out out of the normal. It's not always... 401 00:25:38,867 --> 00:25:44,700 guaranteed that it's gonna be a pest-free...plant. 402 00:25:46,767 --> 00:25:48,700 So that's why it's always good just to check, 403 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:52,567 do a visual inspection, 404 00:25:52,567 --> 00:25:54,667 a thorough visual inspection on these. 405 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,266 So here's something right over here. 406 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,000 It's a little bitty thing. 407 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:09,867 If the insect Officer Garza has spotted turns out to be 408 00:26:10,033 --> 00:26:13,500 an invasive species, the entire shipment will be 409 00:26:13,667 --> 00:26:15,667 refused entry into the US, 410 00:26:15,834 --> 00:26:18,266 costing the shipper thousands of dollars. 411 00:26:31,467 --> 00:26:35,567 The Camino Real Bridge links the city of Eagle Pass 412 00:26:35,567 --> 00:26:37,800 with Piedras Negras, Mexico. 413 00:26:44,567 --> 00:26:46,667 I'm just looking at the natural voids that these 414 00:26:46,834 --> 00:26:49,667 pickups have, but this one right now looks good. 415 00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:53,100 Officers stay vigilant for signs of anything 416 00:26:53,266 --> 00:26:55,800 unusual or suspicious. 417 00:26:55,967 --> 00:26:58,667 [Huerta] You have to process vehicles, you know, in a timely manner, 418 00:26:58,834 --> 00:27:01,600 but then also you have to, you know, realize which ones 419 00:27:01,767 --> 00:27:04,500 are kind of iffy or you don't like the story or something. 420 00:27:10,266 --> 00:27:12,266 So really, the officers only have, you know, 421 00:27:12,266 --> 00:27:14,100 less than a minute, sometimes less than 30 seconds 422 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:15,800 to process a vehicle, right? 423 00:27:15,967 --> 00:27:18,767 So that's one of the challenges that our officers face. 424 00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:23,367 [officer over radio] Got a vehicle coming in 425 00:27:23,533 --> 00:27:25,467 from lane seven to [indistinct] number three. 426 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,567 Even at midnight, the cars are still streaming in, 427 00:27:30,567 --> 00:27:32,967 and the driver with a missing front license plate 428 00:27:33,133 --> 00:27:34,667 heading to Mexico 429 00:27:34,834 --> 00:27:36,667 has been flagged for further inspection. 430 00:27:38,367 --> 00:27:39,867 [Figueroa] It didn't have a front plate, 431 00:27:40,033 --> 00:27:42,367 so that was my first issue with it. 432 00:27:43,567 --> 00:27:46,567 Once I stopped it, I saw he had multiple boxes. 433 00:27:46,567 --> 00:27:50,166 Boxes are typically what we call here "encargos," 434 00:27:50,166 --> 00:27:52,266 or they're taking parcels or packages 435 00:27:52,433 --> 00:27:55,300 on behalf of somebody else to Mexico. 436 00:27:55,467 --> 00:27:56,967 [Figueroa speaking in Spanish] 437 00:28:00,367 --> 00:28:03,266 The man has also told Officer Figueroa 438 00:28:03,266 --> 00:28:05,667 that the pickup belongs to someone else. 439 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,667 [Figueroa and driver speaking] 440 00:28:36,867 --> 00:28:39,800 The man's claim to be driving his friend's truck across 441 00:28:39,967 --> 00:28:42,200 the border while he has dinner 442 00:28:42,367 --> 00:28:44,867 raises more questions for Officer Figueroa. 443 00:28:53,367 --> 00:28:54,467 Alfonso, OK. 444 00:29:00,567 --> 00:29:02,567 The man's story isn't adding up. 445 00:29:03,667 --> 00:29:06,166 Very vague responses, because obviously he doesn't 446 00:29:06,166 --> 00:29:09,767 know the answers to what I was trying to get from him. 447 00:29:09,934 --> 00:29:12,200 It didn't make sense why he needed to be crossing 448 00:29:12,367 --> 00:29:14,000 the vehicle on behalf of his friend. 449 00:29:15,100 --> 00:29:17,800 A discrepancy in the vehicle's registration papers 450 00:29:17,967 --> 00:29:19,567 is yet another red flag. 451 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,166 So the paperwork says [bleep] is the owner. 452 00:29:24,767 --> 00:29:26,667 He's telling me that his friend's name, 453 00:29:26,667 --> 00:29:29,867 which is the owner of the vehicle, is Alfonso. 454 00:29:30,033 --> 00:29:31,266 So that doesn't match. 455 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:34,967 With growing doubts over who actually owns the vehicle 456 00:29:35,133 --> 00:29:39,867 and its cargo, officers begin to suspect driver could be 457 00:29:39,867 --> 00:29:42,867 carrying out illicit activity for a cartel. 458 00:29:43,033 --> 00:29:44,767 10-4, stand by. 459 00:29:44,767 --> 00:29:47,367 They will need to search the car for further clues. 460 00:29:57,567 --> 00:30:00,867 2 In Detroit, a shipment of flowers from Canada 461 00:30:00,867 --> 00:30:03,266 has been sent for inspection. 462 00:30:03,433 --> 00:30:06,400 To enter the US, all plants must be free 463 00:30:06,567 --> 00:30:09,867 of any harmful pests that can damage crops. 464 00:30:10,033 --> 00:30:11,166 [Garza] So there's something right over here. 465 00:30:14,367 --> 00:30:15,767 It's a little bitty thing. 466 00:30:19,367 --> 00:30:22,266 Officer Garza thinks he may have spotted an insect 467 00:30:22,433 --> 00:30:24,667 in the plants, so he wants to carry out 468 00:30:24,834 --> 00:30:27,367 a more detailed inspection on some of the flowers. 469 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:30,567 [Garza] So I'll just get a sample of everything, 470 00:30:30,567 --> 00:30:32,700 mix it all in there. 471 00:30:33,967 --> 00:30:38,000 And this is just for micro-sized insects, 472 00:30:38,166 --> 00:30:39,667 organisms that we may find. 473 00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:43,467 If it's not admissible, then the truck gets rejected 474 00:30:43,467 --> 00:30:45,166 back to Canada and... 475 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,867 it will be given an emergency action notice to be 476 00:30:50,033 --> 00:30:53,266 re-delivered and be fumigated for these bugs. 477 00:30:56,667 --> 00:30:58,367 So that's one pile right there. 478 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,367 Even insects not seen by the naked eye, 479 00:31:03,533 --> 00:31:04,800 can carry diseases. 480 00:31:06,066 --> 00:31:08,500 To catch these microscopic creatures, 481 00:31:08,667 --> 00:31:11,266 Officer Garza uses a special kit. 482 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,567 This is what's known as Berlese funnels. 483 00:31:15,567 --> 00:31:17,967 They're just heat lamps. 484 00:31:18,133 --> 00:31:20,266 That releases all the moisture from the plants, 485 00:31:20,266 --> 00:31:24,166 so all the bugs, insects, anything like that will fall 486 00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:28,166 down this funnel, and we'll put a little tray full of alcohol, 487 00:31:28,333 --> 00:31:30,166 and they will all fall down there, and then from there 488 00:31:30,333 --> 00:31:32,567 we'll collect the samples that we find. 489 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,200 So what we're gonna do now is we're going to juice these 490 00:31:36,367 --> 00:31:39,367 containers up, filling it up with alcohol, so all the animal 491 00:31:39,367 --> 00:31:43,967 or any little insects that fall into here will stay in there. 492 00:31:44,133 --> 00:31:45,567 So all we're gonna do here is just stuff 493 00:31:45,567 --> 00:31:47,900 our Berlese funnel. 494 00:31:50,367 --> 00:31:53,066 Just turn this on just like that and put it right over. 495 00:31:53,233 --> 00:31:56,800 And we'll give these about 30, 40 minutes just so it can 496 00:31:56,967 --> 00:32:00,367 dry up completely and let all that organisms fall through. 497 00:32:01,467 --> 00:32:05,600 As the plants dry out, Officer Garza inspects one last 498 00:32:05,767 --> 00:32:07,700 plant sample looking for bugs. 499 00:32:08,667 --> 00:32:10,767 What we can do here is just try to shake, 500 00:32:12,367 --> 00:32:14,166 see if anything comes out. 501 00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:18,166 In 2024, almost 80,000 citations were issued 502 00:32:18,166 --> 00:32:22,367 to commercial vehicles crossing with contaminated produce, 503 00:32:22,367 --> 00:32:24,367 preventing millions of dollars 504 00:32:24,367 --> 00:32:26,667 worth of damage to US agriculture. 505 00:32:27,667 --> 00:32:30,500 A detrimental insect coming into the United States could be 506 00:32:30,667 --> 00:32:33,467 as harmful as any drug shipment found. 507 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,967 So it's always good just to check. 508 00:32:37,133 --> 00:32:40,266 Like the slogan says, "Don't pack a pest." 509 00:32:41,266 --> 00:32:43,900 So far, nothing has been discovered. 510 00:32:46,166 --> 00:32:49,967 But if anything suspicious is found in the Berlese funnels, 511 00:32:50,133 --> 00:32:51,800 then all the flowers will be returned. 512 00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:54,767 See what we got. 513 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,600 So these have been on for about 20, 30 minutes for now. 514 00:33:03,867 --> 00:33:04,967 There's that set. 515 00:33:06,467 --> 00:33:08,667 So yeah, there are some mites, but like I said, 516 00:33:08,667 --> 00:33:11,800 they're microscopic, so these are not actionable. 517 00:33:13,867 --> 00:33:16,600 The search has found only harmless mites. 518 00:33:18,100 --> 00:33:19,800 [Garza] I'm just gonna check this one right here. 519 00:33:22,266 --> 00:33:24,266 Some mites, all that little bunched up. 520 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:27,266 Like I said, the mites that will be found here 521 00:33:27,433 --> 00:33:28,767 will be microscopic. 522 00:33:28,934 --> 00:33:30,100 So this shipment's good to go. 523 00:33:30,266 --> 00:33:32,600 Release them and we'll let them down the road. 524 00:33:38,467 --> 00:33:41,066 These plants were coming from a Canadian greenhouse. 525 00:33:41,233 --> 00:33:42,700 They did a good job cleaning 526 00:33:42,867 --> 00:33:44,600 and making sure that they're pesticide-free. 527 00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:48,600 The driver and his flowers are cleared to continue 528 00:33:48,767 --> 00:33:50,000 on their journey. 529 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,200 It'll make somebody's mom or dad happy with these flowers. 530 00:34:09,266 --> 00:34:10,967 In Eagle Pass, 531 00:34:11,133 --> 00:34:13,467 a driver has been stopped when attempting to cross 532 00:34:13,633 --> 00:34:15,400 from the US into Mexico. 533 00:34:15,567 --> 00:34:17,767 [Figueroa and driver speaking] 534 00:34:21,767 --> 00:34:23,166 Alfonso, OK. 535 00:34:23,333 --> 00:34:26,200 He admits he doesn't own the car he's driving, 536 00:34:26,367 --> 00:34:28,166 but the name he's given as the owner 537 00:34:28,333 --> 00:34:30,567 doesn't correlate with the vehicle's registration. 538 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,000 The name that the driver provided doesn't match 539 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,266 the paperwork that he gave me on the title of the vehicle, 540 00:34:37,266 --> 00:34:38,767 nor the insurance. 541 00:34:38,767 --> 00:34:41,266 He claims he's transporting the truck and boxes 542 00:34:41,266 --> 00:34:43,600 for a friend, but officers suspect 543 00:34:43,767 --> 00:34:45,667 he's being used by a cartel. 544 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,166 So, that's why I'm still not satisfied 545 00:34:50,166 --> 00:34:53,400 with whatever is going with this vehicle right now. 546 00:34:53,567 --> 00:34:55,166 So, we'll unload everything, scan it through, 547 00:34:55,333 --> 00:34:57,266 do a physical inspection of the vehicle, 548 00:34:57,433 --> 00:34:59,166 make sure everything is good. 549 00:35:04,166 --> 00:35:07,567 [Ruiz] Nine times out of ten, these people that are taking 550 00:35:07,734 --> 00:35:10,100 these items to Mexico, they don't inspect the stuff. 551 00:35:10,266 --> 00:35:12,867 And the people take advantage of that to try to hide 552 00:35:13,033 --> 00:35:16,000 contraband, weapons, ammo, money, things like that. 553 00:35:19,867 --> 00:35:22,300 He's responsible for everything that's in the vehicle. 554 00:35:22,467 --> 00:35:24,867 So if we get to find something, it's his fault. 555 00:35:26,300 --> 00:35:27,767 Large TV. 556 00:35:28,900 --> 00:35:30,000 Hey, Figueroa. 557 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:32,667 So far, no anomalies. 558 00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:35,900 This is the golden nugget. 559 00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:41,400 These compressors are... 560 00:35:42,567 --> 00:35:46,000 famous for having stuff inside that's not supposed to be. 561 00:35:50,967 --> 00:35:53,467 But not this time. It's clean. 562 00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:57,900 The load is given the all-clear, but drug cartels 563 00:35:58,066 --> 00:36:01,100 are known to hide contraband inside a vehicle's bodywork. 564 00:36:02,867 --> 00:36:04,700 The pickup is sent for an X-ray. 565 00:36:06,467 --> 00:36:07,967 [officer over radio] Z-port, Z-port, are we up? 566 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,200 10-4, stand by. 567 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,367 Nothing suspicious is spotted within the truck, 568 00:36:33,367 --> 00:36:36,567 but Officer Rodriguez sees something else unusual. 569 00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:50,166 License. 570 00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:54,567 It's got to have a plastic film on the numbers. 571 00:36:54,567 --> 00:36:55,800 They're somewhere here. 572 00:36:55,967 --> 00:36:57,467 [Figueroa] Once the vehicle went through, 573 00:36:58,467 --> 00:37:01,166 the license plate reader didn't pick up the license plate. 574 00:37:01,333 --> 00:37:04,000 When you see the picture on the license plate reader, 575 00:37:04,166 --> 00:37:06,367 it's all blacked out. 576 00:37:06,533 --> 00:37:08,867 The plate has been deliberately tampered with 577 00:37:08,867 --> 00:37:10,767 to stop the car from being tracked 578 00:37:10,767 --> 00:37:12,367 by vehicle-recognition cameras. 579 00:37:13,467 --> 00:37:15,767 This concealment and the driver not knowing 580 00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:18,066 the car's real owner are all signs 581 00:37:18,233 --> 00:37:20,767 that the vehicle might be stolen. 582 00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:36,967 2 In Eagle Pass, a driver crossing into Mexico 583 00:37:37,133 --> 00:37:39,300 with a suspicious truck has been stopped. 584 00:37:39,467 --> 00:37:41,100 Officers have discovered 585 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:43,467 the license plate has been tampered with. 586 00:37:43,467 --> 00:37:45,900 [Rodriguez speaking] 587 00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:54,567 Here in Eagle Pass, we have a lot of tendencies 588 00:37:54,567 --> 00:37:58,400 of vehicles going outbound that are stolen. 589 00:37:58,567 --> 00:38:00,400 These type of trucks, they're used a lot 590 00:38:00,567 --> 00:38:01,700 by the cartels. 591 00:38:01,867 --> 00:38:05,166 They use it for type of payments or for doing 592 00:38:05,333 --> 00:38:08,900 their crimes over there in Mexico. 593 00:38:09,066 --> 00:38:12,567 Concerned the vehicle might be stolen, officers decide to run 594 00:38:12,567 --> 00:38:15,767 a check on its serial number, known as the VIN. 595 00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:23,367 Criminals sometimes fraudulently change 596 00:38:23,533 --> 00:38:25,500 the VIN marked on a vehicle's exterior 597 00:38:25,667 --> 00:38:28,166 to mask its theft. 598 00:38:28,333 --> 00:38:29,467 The machine that we have, 599 00:38:29,467 --> 00:38:31,266 that we connected through that port, 600 00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:35,166 and we can actually look for the original VIN number 601 00:38:35,166 --> 00:38:38,467 that's embedded within the program of the computer. 602 00:38:38,633 --> 00:38:39,533 If it doesn't match, 603 00:38:39,533 --> 00:38:42,066 then you probably have a stolen vehicle. 604 00:38:43,367 --> 00:38:46,967 [machine beeping] 605 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,767 This time, the vehicle identification number is a match, 606 00:38:52,767 --> 00:38:55,100 and the car hasn't been reported as stolen. 607 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,367 [Figueroa and driver speaking] 608 00:39:01,867 --> 00:39:04,867 With questions remaining about the car's ownership, 609 00:39:04,867 --> 00:39:07,367 officers ask the driver to call his friend. 610 00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:10,567 [phone ringing] 611 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:15,400 Alfonso? 612 00:39:16,300 --> 00:39:19,800 He admits he doesn't own the car either and says he was 613 00:39:19,967 --> 00:39:22,767 paid to pick it up in Indiana and take it south. 614 00:39:28,467 --> 00:39:32,000 Officer Figueroa now suspects the man has been asked to drive 615 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,000 over a newly-purchased car that hasn't been 616 00:39:35,166 --> 00:39:36,500 declared to customs officials. 617 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:09,367 The person, he didn't give me a name. 618 00:40:09,367 --> 00:40:14,166 The person who had the vehicle over in upstate Indiana 619 00:40:14,166 --> 00:40:17,066 told him to bring it down. 620 00:40:17,233 --> 00:40:19,400 The thing is, yes, you can export a vehicle to Mexico. 621 00:40:19,567 --> 00:40:22,700 There's no issues with it, but there's a process, 622 00:40:22,867 --> 00:40:24,667 and that process starts with us. 623 00:40:24,834 --> 00:40:26,367 As US Customs and Border Protection, 624 00:40:26,367 --> 00:40:28,100 you have to bring it for exportation 625 00:40:28,266 --> 00:40:31,600 72 hours prior of the vehicle exiting through 626 00:40:31,767 --> 00:40:33,667 a port of entry into another country. 627 00:40:33,834 --> 00:40:37,100 By not declaring the car, the owner was trying to avoid 628 00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,333 all the paperwork. 629 00:40:38,333 --> 00:40:42,500 But now, the vehicle and its contents are being impounded. 630 00:40:42,667 --> 00:40:45,500 The driver is free to go, on foot. 631 00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:49,066 He won't face any charges for helping out a friend. 632 00:40:49,233 --> 00:40:51,767 So right now, everything's going to Eagle Pass PD impound lot, 633 00:40:51,767 --> 00:40:54,700 and tomorrow, the person who's the owner of everything 634 00:40:54,867 --> 00:40:57,567 can get in contact with the investigators in Eagle Pass PD, 635 00:40:57,567 --> 00:40:59,800 so he can retrieve all his belongings.