| GamblingPhD menu | Gamblers used for smuggling immigrants December 20 It is now being reported that immigrant smugglers looking to enlist Americans eager to assist in importing illegal immigrants across the border have started looking to unlucky gamblers at San Diego County casinos to do the dirty work. As of late, federal agents are reporting that c asino parking lots have become a back-drop for smuggling operations. Casino parking lots are so busy that the crowds create any easy cover. Additionally, the casinos themselves are a quick way to launder profits. Because of their location on a busy interstate and proximity to the border, The Golden Acorn and Viejas casinos are known targets. In September, a man was driving a utility type truck with 10 people packed into the toolbox compartments when he was busted at a Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8. In an interview, he told Border Patrol agents that a man in the Barona casino parking lot a man offered him $50 a person to pick up the illegal immigrants. In August , Border Patrol agents spied the man driving a utility type truck with compartments for hiding illegal immigrants. He told agents he was approached by a man at the Golden Acorn. Six out of the nine casinos located in San Diego County have opened since the state approved Nevada-style slot-machine gambling on Indian reservations back in 2000. Immigration authorities believe that the casinos they have worked with have been as cooperative as they can with reporting such smuggling situations. Officials at the casinos where smugglers tried to recruit people were generally surprised and stated that they were not aware of any issues at their casinos.
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