Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) celebrated the results of a first-of-its-kind law enforcement operation between 26 states to crack down on cartel activity by seizing deadly drugs and firearms.
“In Arizona, we’re taking action to stop the flow of dangerous drugs through the southern border, impede the cartels’ criminal activity and protect our communities,” said Ducey. “Earlier this year, we teamed up with Texas and 24 other states to share intelligence and strengthen security through the first-of-its-kind American Governors’ Border Strike Force. We’re already seeing results thanks to this coordinated effort — including thousands of pounds of drugs being seized all across the nation.”
In Arizona, we’re taking action to stop the flow of dangerous drugs across the southern border. We teamed up with 25 other states to share intelligence and strengthen security through the American Governors’ Border Strike Force.
And we’ve got results. 1/
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) October 6, 2022
According to Ducey, during August, law enforcement officers from across the nation confiscated over 7,000 pounds of illegal drugs, more than 300 firearms with 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and encountered 650 migrants and eight missing children. Most drugs were found in Oklahoma, Ohio, Georgia, and Arizona.
This seizure was made possible through the collaboration of Ducey and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who co-launched the American Governor’s Border Strike Force (AGBSF) in April. Ducey modeled this strike force after his own Arizona Border Strike Force, which he created in 2015 and has since seized hundreds of pounds of illicit drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. The AGBSF was created in response to the ongoing record of illegal immigration seen at the southern border and the lack of action from the federal government. This team aims to improve criminal intelligence between states, monitor cyber security issues, target anyone who funds criminal activity at the border, and improve security on I-10 and I-40. Other states involved in the AGBSF include Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
Abbot celebrated the news, saying Republican governors are stepping up to provide real relief.
“In the absence of any federal action and leadership, Republican governors have stepped up to do the job Joe Biden refuses to do, providing real relief to our overwhelmed communities through unprecedented action and strategies,” said Abbott.
This announcement comes one year after Ducey and nine other governors visited the southern border and presented a ten-step plan that President Joe Biden could follow to secure the southern border, which has yet to come to fruition.
A year ago, Republican governors handed the Biden admin a plan to resolve the border crisis they created.
365 days later, crickets from Washington.
AZ hasn’t stood still. Through the American Governors’ Border Strike Force, we're targeting cartel activity in our states. https://t.co/3ThGTabbIK
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) October 6, 2022
In another achievement for Ducey, the day he announced AGBSFs, he also made his 100th trip to the southern border. He made the trip to celebrate the opening of TuSimple’s innovation laboratory in Tucson to develop advanced self-driving technologies for freight transportation.
Often seen driving between Phoenix and Tucson, @TuSimpleAI’s autonomous trucks are revolutionizing freight transportation. Visited their innovation laboratory in Tucson where they are advancing technology to make transportation safer & more efficient. @azcommerce pic.twitter.com/9IMOoSTePh
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) October 6, 2022
However, the southern border crisis continues to bring a slew of problems for the country. According to a cost analysis from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), each illegal immigrant allowed to enter the county costs American taxpayers $9,232 per year, meaning the total number of aliens Biden has allowed over the border costs $20.4 billion each year.
The cost of the border crisis is not limited to money either. The AGBSF’s 7,000 pounds of drugs is less than a third of the amount taken by Customs and Border Protection Agents in Arizona over the last year, and the flow does not stop. At the Port of Nogales, Director Michael Humphries recorded a drug seizure on Monday, which resulted in taking 275,000, or roughly 60 pounds of fentanyl pills, five pounds of fentanyl powder, and 27 pounds of meth.
CBP officers stopped a total of approx. 275,000 fentanyl pills, 5 lbs fentanyl powder, 69 lbs cocaine and 27 lbs meth in 3 events. Concealment included floor, gas tank and throughout a car. Officer observation, technology and K9 working together prevented the entry of these drugs pic.twitter.com/eatJDpR3gb
— Port Director Michael W. Humphries (@CBPPortDirNOG) October 4, 2022
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Governors Put Together a 10-Point Plan the Biden Administration Can Use to Immediately End the Border Chaos.” by Doug Ducey.
