Corruption Among Customs Agents

As conflict intensifies along the southwest border, so are increasing infiltrations within our federal law enforcement by Mexican drug cartels, and lack of funds is preventing the recovery and detainment of such corrupt agents, according to homeland security officials.

Scott Henson, political affiliate and author of Grits For Breakfast, a liberal weblog for the progressive audience, posted the article “Will boosted border hiring cause corruption?” dated from 2006 and argued that drug cartel leaders with connections to US law enforcement would ultimately take advantage of the recent hiring wave by the US Customs Service.

With light shed on these recent dealings, it is clear that Henson was correct. March 12th, in Henson’s post, “Told ya so: Massive expansion of customs agents and invited increased border corruption,” he calls attention to the fact that he did, indeed, foresee these circumstances of infiltration occurring years prior to their actual happenings and puts forth the question as to why federal officials did not.

Not only was this potential crisis obvious to Scott Henson and the public in 2006, I completely agree and consider it to be preposterous that our government did not anticipate this move by the drug cartels, and even more so, that they could not come to terms for the past four years with a plan of action and proper finance to accommodate increasing corruption problems.

As Henson takes note of his own cynicism, he further predicts, “we'll see increased corruption problems among border officials in coming years as a result of this illogically rapid, politically motivated border security buildup.” I am of the same opinion. Henson just may be right for a second time if US law enforcement does not take heed and handle this situation and strategy as soon as possible.