Armed smugglers fighting it out

Traffickers using corridor to avert law enforcement
By Brady McCombs
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Photo by David Sanders / arizona daily star

TUBAC — An unwelcome set of neighbors is encroaching on this Southern Arizona community known more for its artisans and golf course than its proximity to the border — armed drug smugglers and violent bandits.

The drug runners, or burreros, or aren't alone on the trails, either. Armed ripoff teams, or bajadores, have become increasingly brazen in the past two years in their attempts to steal loads of drugs and people from smugglers.

"They rip off each other; they shoot at each other; the stakes are higher now," said Lt. Raul Rodriguez, commander of criminal investigations for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. "With more enforcement, surveillance, you are going to create a lot more activity."

Four murders and nine attempted homicides have occurred on the smuggling trails in the area in the past two years, including a recent surge of activity in the Aliso Springs area west of Tubac, Rodriguez said.