Border Patrol and Mexicali police demonstrate joint patrols
CALEXICO — The United States and Mexico showed what it looks like when they work together Monday when U.S. Border Patrol agents and Mexicali police demonstrated a mirror patrol of both sides of the international border.
The event took place about 8 a.m. Those in attendance conducted the patrol on horseback, making up a caravan of about 15 horses.
Mirror patrols being conducted in the area are typical.
A binational mirror patrol is a coordinated effort in which authorities on both sides of the border conduct simultaneous operations to combat transnational criminal organizations, a Customs and Border Protection news release explained.
However, exclusive to Monday’s patrol was the attendance of Mexicali Mayor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and Mexicali Police Chief Alejandro J. Lora Torres. El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent
Gregory K. Bovino also attended.
Olmeda, Torres, Bovino and the horse caravan met at the border near Calexico, and traveled west until reaching Mount Signal Road — an area that is in front of Mount Signal.
Leading the caravan was the Border Patrol Horse Patrol Unit. Mexicali law enforcement patrol vehicles simultaneously trav
eled parallel on the Mexican side of the border.
The area that Monday’s mirror patrol covered was an area of greatest concern to both nations, a CBP news release stated.
Monday’s mirror patrol resulted in some significant findings, as multiple packages filled with drugs were discovered.
Border Patrol agents found two electrical tape
wrapped packages lying on the ground near the intersection of Heber Avenue and First Street, which is in the downtown area.
The packages had a combined weight of 1.1 pounds, with an estimated value of $2,750, a news release stated. The packages field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
During the same mirror patrol, Mexican authorities made their own seizure of drugs (amount undisclosed) near the Mexicali downtown area.
“That apprehension would not have happened without the excellent mirror patrols,”
Bovino said.
He said approximately 1,600 mirror patrols have been conducted so far this year here.
All these patrols are pre-coordinated, preplanned operations between both sides of the border, Bovino said.
“We work toward common goals,” he said. “We’re looking for things.”
Bovino gave praise to
the Horse Patrol Unit. The unit, which is made up of approximately 14 agents, covers the approximately 70 miles of border in the region — all on horseback.
Bovino said horse patrols can travel through areas that patrol vehicles cannot. They also are more environmentally friendly compared to patrol vehicles, he said.