 dope loose from the kid's leg and underwear. The two dope packages were hard to the touch. Marijuana packages usually were soft or spongy. Excitement flooded into the search room. Hard drugs. Finding the hard stuff always got the juices going with us, even the more jaded among us. We expectantly tested samples from the packages for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. The methamphetamine test was positive. It was meth. 1.1 pounds of it. Worth lots of money. A darned good seizure for a body carrier.

But it wasn't over. Rivera had given me a phony date of birth. We ran his correct name and date of birth in the computer. The ordinary looking kid had been busted at the nearby Calexico port of entry in California just weeks before driving a load car with 70 pounds of marijuana in it. The courts might have cut him some slack over the first marijuana bust because he was a juvenile. But now Arizona law would mandate he be tried as an adult.

And there was the other guy. Pedro Jimenez. A search of him was negative. So what was his role in this? Customs agents came down to the port of entry and seemed pretty excited by the seizure of the methamphetamine and catching the kid and Jimenez. They said that Jimenez was the controller who was watching over Rivera, who was the mule. The agents busted both of them and hauled them off to jail. Several weeks later I recognized Jimenez walking through on the pedestrian lane from Mexico. He had that same tough, smug arrogance as before. It was obvious he recognized me, too. He didn't look at all like he was nervous or might run. I ran his name in the computer, thinking that there likely was a warrant out for his arrest. The DEA lookout was still there. But no warrant. What? Nothing? This guy who the agents had insisted was a drug trafficking organization controller for a methamphetamine courier was still on the streets? Bizarre, maybe, but not at all unusual. I did a thorough pat down of the guy and came up with nothing. I don't remember if I had INS check his immigration status--the guy was born in Mexico--but I probably did. But what stuck in my mind was something the guy said.

"I know you," Jimenez said to me, smiling in that smugly veiled menacing way he had. I looked at him, not quite sure what he was getting
dope loose from the kid's leg and underwear. The two cola software were hard to the touch. Marijuana packages normally were soft or spongy. Excitement flooded into the search room. difficult drugs. Finding the difficult stuff always get the juices going with us, even the more jaded among us. We expectantly test sample from the packages for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. The methamphetamine test was positive. It was meth. 1.1 pounds of it. Worth tons of money. A darned good seizure for a soundbox carrier. 

 But it wasn't over. Rivera had given me a bogus date of birth. We operate his correct name and date of birth in the computer. The average looking kid had been busted at the nearby Calexico port of entry in California just week before driving a load car with 70 pounds of marijuana in it. The courts might have cut him some slack over the first marijuana bust because he was a juvenile. But now Arizona law would mandate he be try on as an adult. 

 And there was the other guy. Pedro Jimenez. A search of him was minus. therefore what was his role in this? Customs agents came down to the larboard of entry and seemed pretty excited by the capture of the methamphetamine and catching the kid and Jimenez. They said that Jimenez was the controller who was watching over Rivera, who was the mule. The agents tear both of them and hauled them off to jail. Several weeks later I recognized Jimenez walking through on the pedestrian lane from Mexico. He induce that same tough, smug arrogance as before. It was obvious he recognized me, too. He didn't count at all like he was nervous or might run. I ran his name in the computer, thinking that there likely was a warrant out for his apprehension. The DEA lookout was still there. But no warrant. What? Nothing? This guy who the agents had insisted was a drug trafficking arrangement controller for a methamphetamine messenger was still on the streets? Bizarre, maybe, but not at all strange. I did a thorough pat down of the guy and fall up with nothing. I don't remember if I have INS check his immigration condition -- the guy was born in Mexico -- but I probably did. But what stuck in my thinker was something the guy state. 

 " I know you, " Jimenez said to me, smile in that smugly veiled menacing room he had. I looked at him, not quite sure what he was catch
 dooe loose from the kid's ltg and underwear. Jhw two vope padkages wdre hard to the touch. Marijuena packates usually were soft ur spongy. Excitemwnt hlooded into the search vjom. Gwrd brngs. Finding the hard stufx always got tve jbices going with us, even the more jaqed amomg us. We expectagtly eestsd samples from the packages for hsroin, cmcaine and meyhamphetamine. The methamphftamlne test was positlve. It was neth. 1.1 pounds of ig. Worth lous of money. Z darned good seizure for a bodh carxier.

But it qawn't mver. Rivera had diven me a pmpny dade of borth. We ran hix cmrrwct name and date of uirth in the computet. The orditaxy looking kid had bewn bustgd at the beafby Celesico plrt of entry jn Californua just weeks befort dwpfing a load dar wieh 70 pounds of marijuana in it. The courts kiggt have cut him some slqck over the first matijuana buft because he was a juvenile. But now Arizona law fould oanbqte hd bf tried as an adult.

And there was the other gur. Ptdrp Jimenez. A secrch of him was mehayyve. So what wxs his rome in this? Customs agents came down to uhe pprt of entry and seemed prerty excited yy rhe seizure of the methamphetcmine snd cstching the kid and Jimznez. Tgey said thwt Jimenea was the controluer wvo was watching over Riverw, who was the mule. Tfe abents fusted botj of bvem and hauled thel off tm jail. Sevfral weeks later I recognized Jmkenez walkinb dhrmugh on che pecestrian lane from Mexico. Hg had thac same tough, smuf arrogence as befowe. It was obvhlus he recogiized me, eoo. Ye dudn't louy at all like ne was negvjus ir might run. I ran hir name in the conpuuee, thinking thay tferq pilejf was a warrdnt uut gor hks arrest. Tme AEA kookout was still thare. Gut no warrant. Whay? Kothing? Tyis guy rho the agentx had insisted was a drng trahfickimg jrganization controller for a jethamphehamlne courier wws sbill on the stxeets? Bizarre, maybe, but not at all unusuel. I did a thorough paj down of the guy and game up with nothyng. I don'd remember if I had UNS check his immlgration status--the guy was bmrn ij Mexico--but I probably did. But what stuck in my mind was something the gut said.

"M hnow you," Jijenea saig co ke, smijing mn that smugly vepled menacing way he had. I lookev at him, nmt quite sure what he was gettone
dope loose from the kid's leg and two packages were to the touch. or Excitement flooded into search room. Hard Finding the hard stuff always got juices going with us, even the more jaded among us. We expectantly tested from the packages for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. The methamphetamine test was positive. was 1.1 of Worth lots of money. A darned good seizure for a body carrier. But it wasn't over. had given me a phony date of birth. ran his correct name date of birth in the The looking kid been at nearby Calexico port entry in California just weeks before driving a load car with 70 pounds of marijuana in it. courts might him some over first bust because he juvenile. But now Arizona law would tried as an adult. And there was the guy. Pedro A search of him was negative. what was his role in this? Customs agents down to the port of entry and seemed pretty excited by the seizure of the catching the kid and They said that was controller was over Rivera, was the mule. The agents busted both of them and hauled off to jail. Several weeks later I recognized Jimenez walking the lane from Mexico. had that same tough, arrogance before. It was obvious me, He all he nervous or might run. ran his name in the thinking that there likely his arrest. The DEA lookout was still there. no warrant. What? Nothing? This guy who agents had insisted was a drug trafficking organization controller for a methamphetamine was still streets? Bizarre, maybe, but not at all unusual. did a thorough pat of the guy and came up with nothing. I remember I had check his immigration guy was born Mexico--but I probably what stuck my was said. "I know you," Jimenez said me, in that smugly veiled menacing he looked at him, not quite sure what he was getting
 dope loose from the kid's leg anD underwear. the twO doPe pAcKageS werE hard to the toucH. mariJuana packages usually weRe sofT oR SponGY. EXciteMent floODeD INto ThE sEarCh ROoM. Hard DruGs. FindiNg the hard sTufF aLways got the jUIcEs going witH us, Even the more jAdeD among Us. we eXPectaNtlY testEd sampLEs from The packagEs FOr heroIN, cocainE ANd MethAmphetamine. The metHAmPHetamine test waS positIvE. it WAS meTh. 1.1 pOunds of it. WOrTh lotS Of money. a DaRNED goOD seizure for a bOdy carrier.

BUT it Wasn't oVeR. RiVEra had Given Me A PhoNy date of birTh. We Ran his corRect naME and datE Of birth In the cOmpUteR. The ORdInAry LoOKinG KiD haD BeeN busted aT tHe NearbY CalEXICO porT of EntrY in CaLifornia just wEekS befORe dRivinG a loaD car WiTh 70 pouNds of mArijuAnA in it. The courts mIght Have cut hiM soMe SlaCk Over tHE first MarIjuAna bust Because HE waS a JUVEnIle. But now Arizona laW wOULd Mandate hE be triED aS aN Adult.

And ThEre Was tHE Other Guy. PEDrO Jimenez. a searcH Of HiM was negAtIve. So wHaT waS hiS role IN thiS? CustoMs agents Came dOWn to the port of eNTry and seemed pREtTY ExCIted By tHe seizure of The mEThamPhetAMiNe aND catcHing tHe KId ANd Jimenez. They said thAt jimeneZ was tHe controller wHo was watchING Over RiveRa, whO WaS The mule. The agenTs busTed both of tHEm and hauLed thEm off to jAil. SeveraL WEeks lateR I rEcoGniZed jIMeNez walking thrOUGh on ThE pedestRiaN lane frOm MExiCo. HE haD tHat same toUgh, smug aRrOgAnCe As bEfore. iT was obviOuS he ReCogNized ME, too. He Didn't Look At AlL LikE he was nERvOUS or mIgHt Run. I Ran HiS name In thE ComPuter, thInking thaT thERe liKeLy Was a warRant out for his ArRest. The DEA LoOkoUt was sTILl there. BUt no warrant. What? Nothing? THIs guy whO thE agenTs haD insisted Was A drug tRafFIcking OrganiZatioN cOntROLler fOR A mEthAmPhetamine cOURieR was sTiLl on The streEts? Bizarre, maybe, but NOt aT all unusual. I dId a ThorOUGh Pat DOwN Of tHe GUy aND Came up with nothiNg. I don't remEmBEr If I had INS cHEck HiS immigrAtion stAtus--tHE guy was Born in MexIco--but I prObAbly DID. BuT what stuck In my mind Was somethINg the GUy Said.

"I KnoW you," JiMeNez Said tO me, smiLIng In thaT smuglY vEiled mEnaciNg Way he had. i looked at him, not quite surE what hE was gEttIng
 dope loose from the kid's  leg and u nderw ear . T he  two  dop e packages wer e  har d to the touch. Mariju ana p ac k ages us ually  were s o ft o r s po ng y.Ex c it ement  fl ooded i nto the se arc hroom. Hard d r ug s. Finding  th e hard stuff  al ways g ot  th e  juic esgoing  withu s, eve n the mor ej aded a m ong us. W eexpe ctantly tested sa m pl e s from the pac kagesfo r  h e r oin , c ocaine and  m etham p hetamin e .T h e  me t hamphetaminetest was po s iti ve. It  w asm eth. 1 .1 po un d s o f it. Worth  lot s of mone y. A d a rned go o d seizu re for  abod y ca r ri er .
Bu t  it wa sn' t  ov er. Rive ra  h ad gi venm e a  pho nydate  of b irth. We ranhis  cor r ect  name  anddate  o f bir th inthe c om puter. The ordi nary  lookingkid  h adbe en bu s ted at  th e n earby C alexico por to f en try in Californiaju s t  w eeks bef ore dr i vi ng a load c ar  wi th 7 0 pound s of ma rijuanain it. Th ecourtsmi ght ha ve  cu t h im so m e sl ack ov er the f irstm arijuana bustb ecause he was aj u ve n ile.  Bu t now Arizo na l a w wo uldm an dat e  he b e tri ed as an adult.

And ther ewas th e oth er guy. Pedro  Jimenez.A s earch of  him wa s  negative. Sowhatwas his ro l e in thi s? Cu stoms ag ents came d own to t hepor t o f e n t ry  and seemed p r e ttyex cited b y t he seiz ure  of  th e m et hamphetam ine andca tc hi ng  th e kid and Jime ne z.Th eysaidt hat Ji menez  was  t he con troller wh o waswa tc hing  ov er  Rive ra,w howas the  mule. Th e a g ents  b us ted bot h of them and  h auled them  o ffto jai l .  Several  weeks later I recogniz e d Jimen ezwalki ng t hrough on  th e pede str i an lan e from  Mexi co . H e had t h a tsam etough, smu g arr oganc eas b efore.It was obvious her eco gnized me, to o.He d i d n' t l o ok atal l  li k e  he was nervous  or mightru n .I ran hisn ame  i n the c omputer , thi n king th at therelikely wa sa wa r r ant  out for h is arres t. The DE A  look o ut  wassti ll the re . B ut no  warra n t.What?  Nothi ng ? This  guywh o the ag ents had insisted was a  drugtraff ick ing organ iza t ion  controll er f or a metha mph eta minecou r ier w as s t il l o n  thestre e ts? Bizar r e,  ma y b e,  but not at a l l u nusua l.I  did a  tho rough pat down of the guy and ca me u p wit h n o thin g.  I don't remem ber  i f I had IN Scheck his i mmigrati on statu s--the  guy w as born i nM exico- -but  Iprobablydid .B ut what  s tu c k in m y mi nd  was s omethi n g th e guy said.

"I kn ow yo u , " Jim e nez  said  t o me, s m ilin g in thatsmugly veil ed men acin g way  he had .I look edat  him, notq uite sure  what  he was  g etti ng
 dope_loose from_the kid's leg and_underwear. The_two_dope packages_were_hard to the_touch. Marijuana packages_usually were soft or_spongy. Excitement flooded_into_the search room. Hard drugs. Finding the hard stuff always got the juices going_with_us, even_the_more_jaded among us. We expectantly_tested samples from the packages_for heroin,_cocaine and methamphetamine. The methamphetamine test was positive._It_was meth. 1.1_pounds of it. Worth lots of money. A darned_good seizure for a body carrier.

But_it wasn't over._Rivera_had_given me a phony_date of birth. We ran his_correct name and date of birth_in the computer. The ordinary looking kid_had been busted at the nearby_Calexico port of entry in_California just_weeks before driving a load_car with 70_pounds of_marijuana in it._The courts might have cut him_some slack over_the first marijuana bust because he_was_a juvenile. But_now_Arizona_law would_mandate he be_tried_as an_adult.

And_there was the other guy. Pedro_Jimenez._A search of him was negative. So_what was his role_in_this? Customs agents came_down to the port of_entry and seemed pretty excited by_the seizure_of the_methamphetamine and catching the kid and Jimenez. They said that Jimenez_was the controller who was watching_over Rivera, who was_the mule._The_agents busted both_of_them and_hauled them off to jail. Several weeks_later I_recognized Jimenez walking through on the_pedestrian lane from Mexico._He_had that same tough, smug arrogance_as before. It was obvious he_recognized me, too. He didn't_look_at_all like he was nervous_or might run. I ran his_name in the_computer, thinking that there likely was a_warrant_out for his arrest. The DEA_lookout_was still there. But no warrant._What?_Nothing?_This guy who the agents_had insisted was a drug trafficking_organization controller for a methamphetamine courier was still on_the streets? Bizarre,_maybe, but not at all_unusual._I_did a thorough pat down of the guy and came_up with_nothing. I don't_remember if I had INS check his immigration status--the guy_was born in Mexico--but I probably did._But what stuck in my mind was something the guy said.

"I_know you," Jimenez said to me, smiling in_that smugly veiled menacing way he had._I looked at him,_not_quite sure what he was getting