NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS www.nafbpo.org ZACK TAYLOR BS Wildlife Ecology, University of Florida U.S. Border Patrol, 1976-2003 (26+ years of service) Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Ret.) Workeddrug & alien smuggler traffic in the proposed Tumacacori Wilderness from 1988-2003 Founding Charter Member, National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers (NAFBPO) 1
25 MILE REGION ALONG THE ARIZONA BORDER 2
FIRES & FIREFIGHTING IMPACTS An estimated 80% of wildfires in wild lands areas are caused by illegal aliens Firefighters have been shot at while responding to fires along trafficking corridors Agents may be called upon to provide armed security for wild land firefighters Some wildfires are intentionally set as diversions for illegal activities TUMACACORI HIGHLANDS AREA 3
TRASH & ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE 4
NOTHING ON THE MEXICAN BORDER IS EVER THE WAY THAT IT SEEMS Photograph of Robbery Scene that looks like trash in wash 5
CASE STUDY 1 Rape Tree Pajarito Wilderness, Arizona Many traffickers consider rape the price of admission for women and young girls illegally entering the U.S. Undergarments of the victim are hung on a Rape Tree as a trophy of their conquests RAPE TREE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Border fence, Pajarito Wilderness Border fence, Pajarito Wilderness 6
RAPE TREE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Beautiful, remote, rugged terrain leading away from border fence Border fence area terrain, Pajarito Wilderness RAPE TREE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Remote feeder canyon, leading to Rape Tree trail Feeder canyon to Rape Tree trail, Pajarito Wilderness 7
RAPE T REE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Bras hung up as trophies on Pajarito Wilderness Rape Tree Rape Tree, Pajarito Wilderness RAPE T REE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Undergarments near base of Rape Tree, Pajarito Wilderness Rape Tree, Pajarito Wilderness 8
RAPE TREE, PAJARITO WILDERNESS, AZ Young girl s Bra and Pink panties, torn off on both sides, Pajarito Wilderness Rape Tree area, Pajarito Wilderness CASE STUDY 2 Tubac, Arizona (about 21 miles N of the US Border) B.P. Checkpoint is 2 miles N of Tubac November 2007 Marijuana smuggler fired six shots at a Border Patrol agent at close range 9
CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHT, TUBAC, AZ View from where agent was standing when fired upon, indicating the short distance between the agent and smuggler Tubac, AZ, Agent location CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHT, TUBAC, AZ Marijuana smuggler,.357 Magnum handgun. Tubac, AZ, Marijuana smuggler 10
CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHT, TUBAC, AZ Drug smuggler s revolver. All six shots in the revolver were fired. Tubac, AZ, Smuggler s gun CASE STUDY 3 Chihuahua, Mexico 60 mi. SW of Palomas (and Columbus, NM) Cooler delivered by commercial courier to Chihuahua Municipal Police, Ascension Cooler contained 4 severed human heads Mexican Law Enforcement officials suspect the beheadings are a result of turf wars between rival smuggling organizations 11
ASCENSION, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO Warning note to Police in Chihuahua ( This is what happens, and the same is going to happen to you, whore police ) Warning note to Police taped to cooler ASCENSION, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO Outside of commercial package. ( Delivered to public safety. Vaccines. Handle with care. ) Cooler with ice 12
CASE STUDY 4 Caborca, Mexico & Tumacacori Wilderness, AZ June 2009 Act of terrorism resulting from a dispute between rival factions for control of access routes CABORCA INCIDENT GMC Suburban, Arizona license plate near Caborca, Sonora Caborca, Sonora, June 4, 2009 13
CABORCA INCIDENT Message written in human blood Gang slang warning that there is a new group in town that controls this smuggling route Message in Human Blood, Page 1 14
CABORCA INCIDENT Continuation of previous note, with repetitious terroristic vulgarity intended to intimidate anyone opposing their access to this part of the border Message in Human Blood, Page 2 15
CASE STUDY 5 Nogales, Sonora (60 miles south of Tucson, AZ) December 2009 Control of Nogales provides complete access to the underground tunnel & drainage system that feeds into the U.S. Also guarantees leverage over legal produce truckers delivering produce to the U.S. EJECUTADOS EN NOGALES Note at crime scene, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Note is held by severed human leg. Terroristic Message To The World 16
EJECUTADOS EN NOGALES Translated Note: Send people more capable than these whore Michoacanosand Sinaloans. Now, come pick up your garbage. Signed: Boss of all Bosses 17
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CONCLUSIONS 20