How Drug Smugglers Are Taking Advantage of the Texas Oil Boom
While fracking for oil along the Texas border has become a big business for petrol companies, a new entity seeks to tap into the lucrative market – drug smugglers.
As infrastructure and activity increases to meet the demand of the booming industry, drug smugglers are starting to take advantage of the new roads and increased traffic, much of which is located on private ranch lands.
“Because there are so many different companies, and so many different trucks going through that area, it provides a sort of way to blend in if you will,” National Journal writer Ben Geman tells The Texas Standard's David Brown. “Essentially what’s happening is you’ve got smugglers who are stashing marijuana, or other drugs, in trucks that are either 'cloned' to look like one of the industry trucks, or some type of truck that seems to fit right in driving around on these ranch lands.”
The situation has fomented a new partnership between law enforcement and oil and gas companies as they seek to monitor the oil fields' vast expanse. While smugglers may be able to use the fracking boom to their advantage now, that might not be the case for long.
More at http://kut.org/post/how-drug-smugglers-are-taking-advantage-texas-oil-boom .