Tuesday 10-17-06 - Thursday 10-19-06

Tuesday 10-17-06 - Thursday 10-19-06

Tuesday we dragged some of the interior roads at our primary site and looked for evidence of any incursions from the last few days. No sign was detected. We then mounted a foot patrol/observation effort to see if any activity would occur during the shift change gap in coverage. Tecate PD was observed in the area, but no other traffic was detected. Another team working on the weekend detected and reported sign from a group of 20 that had cut our secondary chain link fencing to make entry. Another group of 15 was sighted immediately south of the primary steel fence waiting to cross. They were deterred until the fence could be repaired and the National Guard could re-establish watch. Another group of five was sighted Sunday using a new route that goes around our latest fencing project. They were reported to and later apprehended by Border Patrol.

Wednesday we prepared more fencing for installation and cleared brush, then set up at a new location for over night watch. This site has over a mile of border and is known as a busy Title 21 (narcotics) corridor. An elaborate tunnel was discovered here a few years ago. Border Patrol was already working a group in the area as we set up. Border Patrol agents pulled off the border at this site just after midnight (shift change) and did not return for more than eight hours. Although we did not observe any crossings; there was heavy vehicle activity during both the midnight shift change and morning shift change periods. Crossings could have possibly occurred in three large blind spots in our detection zone. Without better thermal image equipment or additional technology and personnel; this area will not be easily secured. We will begin working with property owners to clear concealing brush, improve fencing, and condition patrol roads to increase security in this location.

Thursday morning we observed several trucks moving between houses south of the fence during the morning shift change period. Although nothing we observed was worth reporting immediately; we believe that these vehicles were being used to move narcotics or possibly tunneling supplies. When digging a tunnel, large amounts of dirt need to be removed and displaced. It might be considered too suspicious, by tunnelers, to accumulate this soil near the tunnel site. Some of the vehicles may have been hauling off the dirt in concealed boxes. After Border Patrol resumed watch in this zone; we returned to our primary site to make fence improvements and check for sign of incursions. We saw no evidence of any crossings. We were able to install another 100 yards of chain link and cleared brush to allow easier viewing into a blind spot in the Border Patrol/National Guard watch area.