SAN ANTONIO ( NewsNation ) — , Mexican cartels are offering so- called “VIP” packages for migrants to enter the U. S., charging up to$ 15, 000 to help them cross the southern border via underground tunnels.
Comprehensive services are provided for refugees who cross the border in these VIP plans.
What services do Concierge packages include?
Cartels give workers a password to access the cartel they’ve paid, keeping them safe from being harassed by local officials or foe organizations while traversing a network of underground tunnels.
The VIP packages, which start at$ 6, 000 to$ 15, 000 per person, are a relatively safer and more trustworthy way to cross the border as transnational criminal organizations use the 300 miles of storm drains to carry out their illegal activities, are reported by USA Today.
La Linea, one of the organizations investigated by Mexican and U. S. regulators, is linked to the trafficking of at least 1, 000 workers through the caverns per quarter. Hispanic National Guard members, regional police and emigration officials are reportedly involved, accepting bribes to help these operations.
Despite extensive information, Mexican government, especially the Juárez officers, have strongly denied any involvement in the VIP smuggling procedures.
Cartels reduce threats by using GPS and social media.
Many workers claim that using their phones to navigate their journey and that social media is their first contact with organizations.
Border Patrol notices a new trend known as the “guideless group,” where cartels use GPS technology to send groups of refugees across the border without a link and leave standard sneaking strategies.
This technique reduces the risk of pirates being caught and prosecuted, benefiting both the pirates and their companies.
According to Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Agent Christina Smallwood,” I’m giving these refugees a telephone with a pre-programmed way because it already has a map from point A to point B.” Points A and B are where they will cross, and point B is where they can avoid, letting them know if there are more agents that or there are more. Therefore, it leads up to a pickup place, up to what area they have to move to”.
This approach not only removes the pirates from immediate engagement, reducing their chance of capture, but complicates protection initiatives for U. S. authorities.
Cartels shifting to human trafficking
However, organizations today prefer human smuggling over drug smuggling due to lower risk and higher success.
For example, while a kilogram of cocaine might bring in about$ 1, 500 with significant risk, smuggling a person can yield between$ 10, 000 and$ 15, 000.
As a result, nearly 70 % of their actions then focus on migrant trafficking, shifting away from their traditional drug smuggling operations.
