National Geographic Society

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Episode "Marijuana Airdrop"

Published
  • A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent inside a helicopter at sunset. Helicopters have successfully been used by Customs and Border Protection for the location of smugglers and illegal immigrants. Nogales, AZ.
  • An ATV loaded with confiscated bundles. On a regular basis Border Patrol agents confiscate packages of marijuana being smuggled into the USA. Nogales, AZ.
  • Two agents standing outside with six confiscated bundles of smuggled goods. Some smugglers hand carry bundles of marijuana for 2 to 3 days. Nogales, AZ.
  • Agents inside of a flying helicopter. Helicopters help Customs and Border Protection agents track and pursue smugglers. Nogales, AZ.
  • Handcuffed men sitting on rocks, with a helicopter hovering in the background. Illegal immigrants and smugglers can be located with the use of helicopters. Nogales, AZ.
  • Packages of confiscated cash and weapons. Smuggled cash and weapons are often channeled to illegal drug cartels which operate in Mexico. Nogales, AZ.
  • A Border Protection helicopter in the air. Helicopters have been a great aide for the Border Protection law agency. Nogales, AZ.
  • An agent holding up a sample which has tested positive for marijuana. Some drug smugglers carry marijuana for their personal use. Nogales, AZ.
  • An agent carrying confiscated bundles of marijuana up a hill. Smugglers roam the hills along the border with Mexico. The number of smugglers increases with nightfall. Nogales, AZ.
  • Confiscated bundles of marijuana. Smugglers may carry their bundles of marijuana up to 65 kilometers to make their drop-off. Nogales, AZ.
  • Two handcuffed men sitting on a hill, overlooking the desert. Illegal immigrants and smugglers travel north for various reasons. Yet in the harsh desert, it is not uncommon for lives to be lost due to the harsh terrain. In 2009, close to 200 people died in Arizona’s desert. Nogales, AZ.
  • An agent carrying a confiscated bundle on his back. Smugglers and illegal immigrants are quickly detected by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Nogales, AZ.
  • Handcuffed men sitting on a hill. Migrants are often misled about the length of the walk from one city to another. With the difficult desert terrain and lack of supplies, this group’s outcome could have been grim. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 04

    A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent inside a helicopter at sunset. Helicopters have successfully been used by Customs and Border Protection for the location of smugglers and illegal immigrants. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 12

    An ATV loaded with confiscated bundles. On a regular basis Border Patrol agents confiscate packages of marijuana being smuggled into the USA. Nogales, AZ.

  • 6103_Border-Wars-Marijuana-Airdrop-06_04700300

    Two agents standing outside with six confiscated bundles of smuggled goods. Some smugglers hand carry bundles of marijuana for 2 to 3 days. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 02

    Agents inside of a flying helicopter. Helicopters help Customs and Border Protection agents track and pursue smugglers. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 01

    Handcuffed men sitting on rocks, with a helicopter hovering in the background. Illegal immigrants and smugglers can be located with the use of helicopters. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 13

    Packages of confiscated cash and weapons. Smuggled cash and weapons are often channeled to illegal drug cartels which operate in Mexico. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 03

    A Border Protection helicopter in the air. Helicopters have been a great aide for the Border Protection law agency. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 05

    An agent holding up a sample which has tested positive for marijuana. Some drug smugglers carry marijuana for their personal use. Nogales, AZ.

  • Border Wars Marijuana Airdrop 09

    An agent carrying confiscated bundles of marijuana up a hill. Smugglers roam the hills along the border with Mexico. The number of smugglers increases with nightfall. Nogales, AZ.

  • 6103_Border-Wars-Marijuana-Airdrop-08_04700300

    Confiscated bundles of marijuana. Smugglers may carry their bundles of marijuana up to 65 kilometers to make their drop-off. Nogales, AZ.

  • 6103_Border-Wars-Marijuana-Airdrop-10_04700300

    Two handcuffed men sitting on a hill, overlooking the desert. Illegal immigrants and smugglers travel north for various reasons. Yet in the harsh desert, it is not uncommon for lives to be lost due to the harsh terrain. In 2009, close to 200 people died in Arizona’s desert. Nogales, AZ.

  • 6103_Border-Wars-Marijuana-Airdrop-11_04700300

    An agent carrying a confiscated bundle on his back. Smugglers and illegal immigrants are quickly detected by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Nogales, AZ.

  • 6103_Border-Wars-Marijuana-Airdrop-07_04700300

    Handcuffed men sitting on a hill. Migrants are often misled about the length of the walk from one city to another. With the difficult desert terrain and lack of supplies, this group’s outcome could have been grim. Nogales, AZ.