Drug smugglers allegedly move into New Mexico town (U.S.)

[tomm2thumbs]

Source: AP/MSNBC

...smugglers are fleeing the Mexican army's occupation of the town of Palomas, on the other side of the U.S.-Mexico border fence, and settling in Columbus, where there has been a law-enforcement vacuum. The four-man police force in Columbus has turned over seven times in three years because of scandal or apathy.

<snip>

In Palomas, the Mexican army took over law enforcement a year ago after the local police force was driven out by the drug dealers. The Columbus police department has been in disarray too, plagued with unqualified officers and allegations of wrongdoing. One chief was arrested on gun theft charges that were later dropped, and two others were never certified police officers.

<snip>

"If a person wanted to, they could make a good living in Columbus — not legally, but they can make a lot of money if they are willing to risk going to jail."

Ranches and farms in the area are the largest legitimate employers, along with the few shops and cafes in town. Officially, the median income is less than $15,000 a year, a sum that is hard to reconcile with the sudden prosperity around town.

"There's a lot of people who don't work but have a lot of possessions," Odom said, adding that he often spots local teens driving fancy new cars. "They have hubcaps that cost more than my truck."

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30522251/

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Spreading northward in this way is not a good sign - hopefully federal officials are keeping an eye on things like this

[ixion]

1. Solve the problem: End the so-called 'war' on drugs.

[Hulk]

2. But...but we haven't "won the war" yet....?

I don't expect to see the legalization of marijuana in my lifetime, and I'm in my early sixties. We have too many heads up asses in this country to ever make that leap. Instead, we'll just continue to destroy communities, families, and persons' lives by keeping the drug illegal.


I wonder just how many more people would try or use marijuana if it were legalized? Maybe some of the red necks repugs might, and then they might pull that burr out of their asses and become a bit more "complex-thinkers" than the three-word-slogan-throwers.

Ever wonder how many LESS people would die each year as a result of legalizing marijuana?

[imdjh]

4. The world gone mad

"Maybe some of the red necks repugs might"

I live in Florida, which is a lot more southern than most people think and the people here are largely from the deep south including many rural, oh hell I"ll come out and say it: there is a lot of white trash here. And they call smoke pot. I know some folks in rural Alabama too, and meth and pot are synonymous with rural counties outside Birmingham.

Meanwhile I've a 15 year old kid who hangs with the kids of hippies, artists, and college professors and the kids don's smoke pot even though many of their parents do.

[imdjh]

3. I agree that the WOD should end, but what effect do you think that would have on criminals?

Did the Mafia go out of business after Prohibition? Why would we think they would be out of business if the WOD ends?

Besides, the WOD will never really end. We can legalize pot, but it's not realistic to think that politicians (or even most pot smokers) are going support a complete decriminalization of all illegal drugs.

[ixion]

5. I support the legalization of all drugs

because people will use them anyway, so why make criminals out of them.

The truth is that altering one's reality is an age-old, time-honored trait of humanity. In fact, we're hard-wired to do so.

The faux morality and outrage from drug-warriors is disingenuous, at best.

[pokercat999]

6. An easy way to win the "war on drugs" and protect our

citizens in the process, especially those under 21.

Legalize all drugs, dispense them in a controlled and taxed manner much like alcohol and tobacco. This would protect us from the impurities in unlawful drugs, the ridiculously high cost of unlawful drugs and selling drugs to the underage. Why is it difficult for a minor to purchase tobacco or alcohol from the 7-11? Because they don't want to lose their license it's worth much more than one or two sales.

At a date certain have a ten day window to trade all your cash for new cash of a new and different shape, color and look of American paper money, limit exchanges at banks to $5,000, more would have to go directly through the Secret Service or FBI, after the 10 day window the remaining cash is worthless. This will make the millions in the possession of drug cartels worthless at the same time it would help eliminate the overseas counterfeit US currency problems.

This isn't going to happen, why? Because people are continuing to get and remain rich due to the "war on drugs". It comes down to MONEY and the elite are raking it in by the barrel full.

[ohio2007]

7. the new opium of the masses. What reason should doctors perscribe heroin to teen thrill seekers?

mind control?

[pokercat999]

11. What the fuck is wrong with YOU? Can you read or

are you stupid or just forget the :sarcasm: ?

[Fumesucker]

8. Given that a lot of people in this economy no longer have a credit card..

A great many businesses are getting a lot more cash than they have in a long time.. Five thousand cash is the take for a decent sized restaurant for a weekend.

Just because someone has over five thousand in cash does not mean that they are engaged in an illegal business.

Your proposal would end up screwing a great many people who have nothing whatsoever to do with any drug trade, legal or illegal.

Try to buy a nice used car on Craigslist without several thousand dollars in cash just as a single for instance. I certainly wouldn't accept any sort of payment other than cash as a private seller of a used car, the scams are thick out there.

[pokercat999]

10. How much cash do you carry in your pockets at any one

time? OK the exception may be to buy a car but 24 hours before the deal date the money was in a bank. Think about it. There are very few people with over 5K IN CASH not in the bank. Bank money would be exchanged automatically. How would it "screw" anyone?

[Fumesucker]

14. Not everyone trusts banks...

I have a family member that is in the contracting business, he routinely avoids banks as much as possible because the IRS once mistakenly locked his business account and ended up destroying an earlier business of his.. In the construction trades your reputation is everything, when his account was locked he could not pay his help or pay for materials while at the same time he was obligated to finish the job, he had to default on the job and ended up paying tens of thousands of dollars in penalties. Even worse was that it destroyed his excellent reputation as someone who got the job done correctly and on time, he basically never won another bid after that happened. It was months before the IRS unlocked his account by which time his business was kaput and had to be bankrupted.

There are a great many people even today holding cash, not everyone likes the government knowing where every penny they spend goes and it's not just people buying or selling illegal drugs.

[theophilus]

9. Wow! However it is not the first time Columbus has been invaded by Mexicans.

Take a look on Wikipedia.......

[Kali]

13. ...

:thumbsup:

[annabanana]

12. ok... what should be done in +/or for this town?

Whatever you think about the WOD... having a bunch of foreign nationals overwhelm the law enforcement of an American town DOES call for some action, by someone.....