Building on a collaborative foundation that stretches across international lines, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and their Mexican counterparts in the State of Chihuahua have upped the stakes in their joint campaign to combat crime. The Se Busca Información initiative, designed to catch wanted criminals threatening the safety of communities on both sides of the border, has unveiled five new targets, according to a press release by CBP.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Pete Flores stressed the necessity of such partnerships, stating, "The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are working every single day to combat the criminals and transnational criminal organizations through a multilayered enforcement approach, together with our partners." Elaborating on the initiative's importance, Flores told CBP's official website, "The Se Busca initiative is a key part of these efforts to apprehend dangerous criminals wanted on both sides of the border – and we need the public’s help to identify and interdict these criminals that threaten our shared safety."
With crimes ranging from human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, to sex crimes against children and murder, the seriousness of these endeavors cannot be overstated. To engage the public, high-visibility tactics are being employed in the form of posters, flyers, and billboards throughout El Paso, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico, to display the likenesses of these individuals. People in possession of any relevant information are encouraged to reach out to law enforcement through phone or WhatsApp at +1 915-314-8194, which is manned 24/7 and caters to both English and Spanish speakers.
Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has not been without success. Information routed through this tip line has culminated in the arrest of nine targets from past campaigns and four additional criminals, not on the original target list. U.S. Border Patrol Chief for the El Paso Sector, Anthony "Scott" Good, emphasized the shared benefits, “This binational initiative between the United States and Mexico is in the best interest of both countries to promote a safer and more secure shared border region.” He continued by advocating the need to seek assistance from community members on both sides of the border “to obtain their help in finding these dangerous criminals,” according to a statement from CBP.
