Arizona Smuggling Corridor (I-8)

In an effort to analyze the movement of groups heading north, (we) can effectively take one reported (known) incident and do a back-track study, much the same as to where a tornado strikes, and then work backwards to see the weather system from which it evolved.

From there, you can predict where drug laden groups rest during the day.

On Friday (June 18th, 2010 at 0938 hrs) a group of illegal aliens were spotted, waving empty water bottles at mm 140 on the eastbound side of Interstate 8 in the general area where the Pinal County sheriff deputy was shot by illegal alien smugglers armed with AK-47's. The area continues to show activity, therefore....we can assume that a specific area of the border is not protected. To better understand this following analysis, you need to refer to the Arizona "Detailed Topographic Map" (Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer). You can find these maps at any hunting/sport section of Wal*Mart, etc.

Known Intel

At time 0938 on June 18th, 2010, DPS was dispatched to mm 140 on I-8, reference several U.A.'s waving water bottles at passing motorists. DPS arrived and confirmed. USBP was dispatched for pick-up and all were apprehended by 1034 hrs. (Border Patrol Auxiliary Listening Post Station 80W)

Analysis

A rest area is located near mm 140 on I-8. A visual reference point (Lost Horse Peak) is located just to the east and southeast of MM 140. The elevation of that peak is 2,175 ft. A dirt road loops (south) of mm 140, east and west of mm 140, with a dirt road that runs perpendicular to that loop, running north and south.

Let's back-track this particular dirt road as the likely route used by this particular group. Note: Using the rate of travel of 2 miles per hour and 12 hours of walking, it is plausible to walk from the border to mm 140 in about 5 to 6 days. We can also assume, the group did not walk during the day and we can predict where this group obtained assistance along the way. It is my assumption, the villages (Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation) are assisting groups, therefore, this particular back-track analysis doesn't necessarily have to be the specific route, since (other) likely routes are not more than approximately 5 miles apart. Land references, which the group would have to use for navigation, and the available dirt roads with parallel dry washes described within, allows for easy interpretation.

Approximately 14 miles south of MM 140, along a dirt road that may have been used by this group, there are two possible ranch areas on the grid map. They would have been in that area at approximately 0300 hrs, prior to arriving mm 140. Notice the rising terrain to the west. That terrain would have kept the group consistent with the dirt road running northwest and eventually north and south. Because of the rising terrain on their west side, there is a break in the terrain about 5 miles south of the ranch areas, and if they had used that break in the terrain (Kohatke Wash), the likely village they would have spent the day at, or to gather water supplies, etc would have been in the area just north of Kaka where 3 dirt roads converge. IF they were in the Kaka area, the likely time they would have left (sunset) ~2000 hrs (June 17th) in-order to arrive at MM 140 at 0938 hrs the following morning on June 18th.

Just to the northeast of Kaka, there is a village called Totopitk and south of Totopitk is Ventana (hwy 23/24).

If you look at the Kaka Wash and the San Simon Wash, the two washes run into each other and conveniently runs north to a dirt road that leads to Totopitk. Considering the rising terrain to the west of the San Simon Wash, and also used as a reference navigation point (Cimarron Peak 4,108 ft), with the opposite reference navigation point to the east, (Window Mountain 2,961 ft) (we) can assume the likely resting place for supplies, etc was Totopitk. They were there at approximately sunrise on June 17th (the day before) heading north to MM 140 of I-8, arriving at 0938 hrs on June 18th.

Because Kaka and Ventana are on hwy 23, those would be two villages that this group would avoid, since USBP and Tribal Police are present. They crossed two vulnerable areas at night time, while using the San Simon Wash. They crossed hwy 23, between Ventana and Kaka, at approximately 0100 hrs on June 17th and they crossed hwy 34 at the 'dog leg' while still in the San Simon Wash at approximately 2200 hrs on the night of June 16th. Note: They did not necessarily walk in the wash, even though that is the preferred method, but would use the wash as a navigation tool, if THEY believe the area is "hot."

Important Note:
We have learned from prior experience, small groups are used to flank smugglers. As decoys, they (usually) give themselves up very easily, and often do not appear to be in distress. For their effort, they either get through, at no fee paid to the organized crime element at the border, or they are happy to be deported back to Mexico for a fresh new matricula card (I.D.) and do it again for payment. Those types are usually a couple I.A.s' that show-up on a highway and begin hitch-hiking, usually, back south! In this scenario analysis, a large group trying to flag down traffic at mm 140 on I-8, with water bottles in-hand, may have been a decoy for something much larger.

We have determined so far, this group crossed hwy 34 in or about the San Simon Wash, therefore, we can safely assume the group rested 12 hours earlier, in and about North Tracys Well, just 1.5 miles northwest of the village Komak Wuacho. This is where it gets tricky for the group. Crossing hwy 86 near Wahak Hotrontk. Hwy 86 has extensive USBP and Tribal Police coverage. This is an area they would try to cross at night, therefore, the time-line could vary in this area, but if you notice...the San Simon Wash continues south and parallels a dirt road that extends down to hwy 28. It is my analysis, this area near hwy 86 and hwy 21 is a convergence area by all groups. The terrain widens as you look further south to the border and narrows as you look north. From that area, we then have to look at the Mexican side grid map to see the stretch of area that illegal alien smugglers transverse.

Two key points of interest on the Mexican side are San Francisquito, south of the (U.S.) Papago Farms at the end of hwy 21 and to the east on the Mexican side, El Bajio, south of (U.S.) San Miguel on hwy 19.

Because it is readily known that villagers in the Tohono O'Odham assist illegal aliens, the area, along the border, from Shaotkam, just west of Papago Farms and to the east at the Baboquivari mountain range near Sasabe, is the main area for smuggling traffic. A broad area patrolled by a handful of ICE/USBP designated Native Americans, known as the "Shadow Wolves," are not many.

Not to detract from the analysis of this particular group at mm 140 on the 18th, we can easily see, and from experience, the other major area for border crossings are to the east of Sasabe and northward. Both equally concentrated, but wide spread, the eastern side of Sasabe (Coronado National Forest) is rugged terrain and keeps USBP very busy, while the western side of Sasabe (west side of the Baboquivari mountain range) is easier to transverse, but (those) groups have Phoenix as their destination. The eastern section focuses on Tucson, except for the far and few between that cut through the Altar Valley, on both the east and west side of hwy 286 from Sasabe, then north through Schuchk along hwy 35 and north towards Casa Grande through the Aguirre Valley, which is also in the Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation.

Analysis Overview

This information is only a small part of the overall picture of what is happening in Arizona, along the entire border.

As of this report, at 1123 hrs June 19th, DPS and USBP were dispatched to mm 10 on hwy 85. A vehicle was reported as stopping, "individuals ran out of the bushes with bundles and all fled the area." A Dodge Challenger was nearby with a "flat tire." This area is just north of Gila Bend. From the grid map, the logical point from which (this) load crossed I-8, was about mm 130 to 140. The time to get there from where the subject group were giving themselves up at mm 140 yesterday morning at 0938, is about a 12 to 14 hour walk. The temperature in that area yesterday was about 106 degrees, therefore, based on THIS known information, we can look at the grid map and assume, this drug carrying (small) group, spent the day yesterday, around the western edge of the Maricopa Mountains in Maricopa County (Sonoran Desert National Monument) and began walking last night. I would bet that lay-up areas are located between mm 140 and in a general line (northwest) to the area of mm 10 of hwy 85.

If (SBI) the team have not scoped this area as of yet, it would be interesting to see their report.

What we also know about federal Land environmental impact studies..... There are specific guidelines for which U.S. Border Patrol agents must follow, if involved in those areas. Basically...these federal lands are protected and are readily used by smugglers.

Therefore, the conflict exists between the federal government doing their job to protect our borders, and Arizona's new law (SB 1070) to enforce immigration laws for which the federal government refuses to enforce.

We can THEN assume (once again), the effort to stop illegal alien traffic and drug trafficking, has to be accomplished (after the fact) on the streets and in and around the interstate(s). I-8 is a virtual fence and seems to be effective, with citizens on heightened alert to report suspicious activity.

We are of the opinion, the implementation of SB 1070 has a doubled edge sword affect on the illegal invasion, but not being fought by the federal government that has failed to protect this country's national security. Border security has (maybe) increased, but not in the areas mentioned in this report. Interstate 8, from about mm 80 to mm 150 is an active crossing point, which means...the CBP UAV is having little to no effect along the U.S./Mexican border of the Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation, if the UAV is even allowed to fly over that reservation (not likely)...and the handful of ICE "Shadow Wolves" on the reservation have their hands full.


Traffic Alert USA

Arizona Outpost 80W


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