Cartels are openly bragging on TikTok about how they make millions of dollars from a migrant border smuggling operation across the Texas border while evading law enforcement, according to three videos obtained by the Washington Examiner.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, which shared the promotional videos, is continuing to battle the social media recruitment of young U.S. drivers to bring noncitizens illegally into the United States.
“Videos encouraging others to participate in human smuggling across the Southern border are highly concerning,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is investigating TikTok, said. “With the issuance of Civil Investigative Demands, my office is currently combing through TikTok company policies and getting to the bottom of what is happening in these social media posts.”
The first video shows millions of dollars stacked on a table along with a currency counting machine. It is set against the backdrop of a Spanish language song with the subtitles “DRIVERS ASAP.” A second is similar and says, “Truck drivers needed [Rio Grande Valley] area!! Comment and add me to start working,” and “DM to make some racks.”
A third features a Spanish rap song and shows a driver heading down a freeway with several people stuffed into the back of his car, which has the seats removed. TikTok placed a disclaimer on the video that reads, “The actions in this video could result in serious injury or adverse health effects.” --->READ MORE HERE
The scenario is common in Texas : A speeding vehicle with tinted windows is pulled over by law enforcement who notice a dozen people lying down in the back seat. The teenage driver has no explanation for where he is going or what he is doing.
Illegal border smuggling has been happening for decades, but the past year has brought a new phenomenon — minors recruited via social media to transport migrants into the interior of the United States.
“The ad will say, ‘Anyone looking to make easy money, contact us,’” said Sheriff Brad Coe of Kinney County, which is on the border. “Cartels will say, ‘Go to south Texas to pick up some people. We’ll give you $1,000 a head.'”
Tiny Kinney County , population 3,129, has seen an explosion of illegal crossings throughout its rural landscape. In February, 206 people were identified, compared to 28 a year ago. The entire southern border is poised to experience 18,000 illegal crossings a day in the coming months, Coe said.
Children use apps including TikTok, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook to communicate with smugglers. The average age is 14 to 16, and Coe has arrested children living as far away as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
“We’ve had kids from broken homes with mom working two jobs and dad’s in jail. The lure of easy money is what does it,” Coe said. “They get anywhere from $500 to $2,000 a head. The cartels will give them an address and say, ‘Pull up here and honk your horn twice.’” --->READ MORE HEREFollow link below to a relevant story:
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