New Agreement Enhances Border Security

A new, bi-national agreement signed will improve law enforcement communication across the border & aid in information sharing to combat border crime. Gov. Napolitano & Sonora Governor Eduardo Bours Castelo signed the agreement in Puerto Peasco, Sonora, Mexico, during the fall plenary session of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

The original agreement between the states of Arizona & Sonora was signed in June 2005; this new agreement expands & enhances that ongoing effort. It further defines systems for information sharing between the 2 states' law enforcement agencies. It also creates a Cross-Border Communications Committee whose members will implement border-wide protocols for using communications systems. Membership will consist of the directors of Public Safety in each state, as well as law enforcement agency chiefs or designees from Nogales, Douglas and San Luis, Arizona; & from Nogales, Agua Prieta & San Luis, Sonora.

"Sonora faces many of the same immigration-related criminal issues that Arizona must deal with," said Gov. Napolitano. "In June 2005, we launched an unprecedented level of law enforcement cooperation between the 2 states. Our efforts are paying off, & the impact is beginning to be felt."

In the last year, the 2 states' Departments of Public Safety began sharing information on suspected human traffickers, drug dealers & other offenders who engage in vehicle theft & the manufacture & sale of fraudulent government documents. Since then, in Arizona:

* Southern Arizona Vehicle Theft Enforcement Detail has conducted 64 details, recovered more than 230 stolen vehicles; made 76 felony arrests & turned over nearly 300 undocumented immigrants to federal authorities in the United States. Vehicles are often stolen so that criminal organizations can use them to transport individuals or contraband, then abandoned a short time later.

* Arizona DPS has installed License Plate Reader devices, enabling law enforcement to capture more than 200,000 plates & recover more than $3 million in stolen vehicles.

* Financial Crimes Task Force, led by Arizona DPS, has seized nearly $5 million in international money transfers made by criminal organizations. The technique, known as "damming warrants," is used to stop the flow of funds used to finance human & drug trafficking organizations. Additionally, the Task Force has made dozens of arrests.

* Arizona Fraudulent ID Task Force has cross-trained Sonora law enforcement to recognize fake identification cards & other documents. The Task Force continues to conduct numerous undercover operations, & has confiscated hundreds of fraudulent social security cards, driver's licenses, permanent resident cards, Mexican ID cards & other documents.