Legislation seeks to increase penalties against southern border drug cartel spotters

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) recently introduced legislation to increase penalties against southern border drug cartel spotters illegally transmitting information regarding Border Patrol positions or destroying communication devices.

Ernst noted the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act stems from a recent Rio Grande Valley border tour.

Currently, cartels employ spotters to surveil portions of the southern border and report on Border Patrol movements, equipment locations, and other law enforcement activity. Spotters help cartels avoid law enforcement while trafficking people, drugs, and other illegal contraband.

“As our border crisis continues to spiral out of control, the cartels are only getting smarter and more advanced,” Ernst said. “Spotters have become a critical player in how cartels evade law enforcement. By implementing stricter penalties on spotters, it not only deters new individuals from joining cartel efforts, but it prevents more experienced spotters who have been apprehended from quickly returning to action.”

The measure would increase fines and impose a maximum 10-year prison sentence on those convicted of helping cartels.

Earlier this month, Ernst joined a delegation of Senate colleagues for southern border tours with the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) and the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC).