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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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