San Diego
Border Patrol agents along I-8 are increasing efforts to catch
illegal-immigrant and drug smugglers who barrel into oncoming
lanes of traffic to evade capture, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Agents are
prevented from pursuing vehicles traveling against traffic because
of increased risk. But agents are now being placed on the southbound
side of the port of entry to intercept the illegal vehicles. Officials
also are using helicopters to track vehicles as they approach
the border.
The Border
Patrol said there's been at least 16 instances of wrong-way smuggling
in the last year and five in the last month.
In other
efforts to avoid capture, the smugglers are filling their tires
with a silicone gel so they can pass tire-shredding spike strips.
In addition, they use reinforced bumpers that can ram oncoming
cars, says the Border Patrol. The smugglers tend to travel when
traffic is light, usually from midnight to 3 a.m.
