Information From a Former Detective

As a Texas-based company, the US Border is a key topic of discussion and at GangScope we would like to share some information on some of the updates from a gang perspective. While we do not actively assist any law enforcement agency with investigations direct, this post is created by a former officer from a Texas law enforcement agency. With that said, let’s get into the information!

Cartels Seek to Expand

While overdoses have reached an all-time high due to drugs such as fentanyl being brought into the United States and sold or mixed with other drugs, this is not the only thing being intercepted on our Southern borders. The increase in these deadly drugs, as well as the increase in human trafficking and gang activity on our streets, are signs that the drug cartels are seeking to expand their presence in the United States. To add, they are not just present in the cities and towns which share the U.S. /Mexican border either and have begun to infiltrate every city in the United States.

Here is a quote from Sheriff Kieran Donahue that shows just how far the gangs have spread because he is not from South Texas, or Arizona, or Southern California. He is the sheriff of Canyon County, Idaho of all places.

“Border issues are driving the criminality in our streets and rural areas as well as unprecedented numbers of overdoses, including overdose incidents and even deaths inside our jails,” he explains. “My jurisdiction is not unique in the threats we are facing. This border crisis will continue to get worse, and it is affecting every single city, county, and borough in the United States, whether we are talking about drug, human, and or sex trafficking”

An even bigger example occurred in 2020 when more than 600 members of CJNG – (Jalisco New Gang Cartel) were arrested in the United States. This cartel, an offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel, is based in Guadalajara, Mexico, but now is present in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta, and growing. This gang, or cartel, is known for drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons, and extreme violence, including violence against law enforcement officers. They are not alone in that there are several other major violent cartels present throughout the U.S. including the Sinaloa Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Los Zetas, Gente Nueva, and MS 13 from El Salvador. To compound issues, Mexican drug cartels are known to often form alliances with local street gangs so the gangs grow in size as they migrate deeper into the country.

Further Threats

In addition, it is not just gang members from Mexico or Central America that law enforcement officers need to be aware of. Last year, two Yemeni terrorists were caught at the U.S./Mexican border, and dire conditions globally are increasing the number of migrants and gang members posing as simple refugees, attempting to enter our borders. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, in fiscal 2022 to date, federal agents have apprehended 78 people on the “terrorist watchlist.” That’s three times more than the total apprehensions of expected terrorists combined over the past four years. When information is analyzed to assess the totality of the issue, the number of migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border climbed to a record more than 227,000 during the month of September 2022 and more than 2.3 million for the fiscal year 2022, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A Reliable Secure Database

This current situation at our border is a perfect example of why a reliable, secure database like GangScope is so important to have in order to identify those gang members and threat groups new to your community. All types of data can be tracked including their tattoos, associates, and much more. This allows a law enforcement agency the ability to allocate the right resources, respond quickly, and better understand its jurisdiction.

To learn more or to schedule a full demo of our system – request a demo here. We would welcome the opportunity to show you how Gangscope can help your department organize and store your data in a secure and compliant way.

The GangScope Team

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GangScope™ is an intelligence database that helps capture, analyze, search and share intelligence on criminals, gangs, and more. GangScope acts as a first-tier, internal database that manages data on known and suspected criminals and gang members. Intelligence is collected per incident and can include qualifiers, associates, acquaintances (points of contact), witnesses, images, and documents. GangScope’s collection of detailed information aids in investigations, analysis and ultimately solving crime. The software complies with standards outlined by federal (28 CFR) policies. While complying with standards, GangScope™ boasts usability through simple yet extensive data mining via search, reports, profiles, and watches.