Laredo Morning Times - Gun Running

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Laredo Morning Times - Gun Running

By: Nick Georgiou

Local law enforcement needs a regional crime lab and more resources, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar told U.S. Sen. John Cornyn during a closed-door briefing Saturday.

"We're kind of running behind in DNA and ballistics tests because we're on a waiting list and at the mercy of other crime labs in the area," Cuellar said.

"We have to go to San Antonio, where we have a six- to eight-month waiting period."

With a regional crime lab serving Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg counties, the District Attorney's Office could prosecute cases in a more timely manner, he said.

The hour-long briefing included Laredo Police Department and federal law enforcement agencies.

It focused mainly on gun smuggling.

Cornyn didn't mention the crime lab when he spoke with reporters after the briefing, but he pledged to "do everything in (his) power" to help get necessary resources to the border.

"The drug cartels are unfortunately very well-armed frequently with weapons that come from the U.S.," said Cornyn, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee.

The senator said federal prosecutors in Laredo have good ideas about changing laws to make it easier to prosecute "straw purchasers," who legally buy weapons at a gun show but turn around and sell them to drug cartels.

Cornyn said that while U.S. citizens have the right to own guns, the nation has to respect Mexico laws and prevent weapons from getting into the hands of the drug cartels.

"It's a fight that (the Mexican government) must win, and we must help them in every way possible that we can," he said.

"We have to continue and redouble our efforts at the state, local and federal level to try and do everything we can to help (Mexico President Felipe Calderón) fight this threat."

This means paying attention to southbound traffic, not just those going north, Cornyn said, as CBP field operations officers behind him inspected Mexico-bound traffic by using the mobile X-ray van, which scans a vehicle's contents.

"We have to do it in cooperation with Mexico," he said.

"It's a human resource issue and a money issue and being able to afford the equipment."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reports that more than 7,700 guns sold in the United States were traced back to Mexico in 2008.

That's more than double the number the agency reported in 2007 and almost triple from 2006.

For their part, Mexican authorities report that 90 percent of smuggled weapons come from the United States.

Saturday afternoon's briefing at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge also gave agency heads in Laredo an opportunity to explain challenges and problems they are facing with their respective departments.

In addition to the Webb County Sheriff's Department and Laredo Police, the briefing included members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Customs and Border Protection field operations; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Border Patrol.

"He was very attentive and understood the urgency of helping us as much as he can," said Investigator Jose E. Baeza, police spokesman.

"(Cornyn) said he would do whatever he could to get us necessary funding for resources and other different things.

"It was a very productive meeting."

Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, City Manager Carlos Villarreal, District Attorney Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz and Mexican Consul Miguel Angel Isidro attended Saturday's briefing as well.

"When it comes to public safety, all of us here have to be at the front lines to protect the American people and protect all citizens on both sides of the border," Salinas said.

"That's our responsibility because we care. We care about our neighbors."

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