04x01 - Cocaine Snapper

[bunniefuu]

OFFICER: Cigars.

OFFICER: We're searching this warehouse
to see if we can find any narcotics.

You have to check not just
the product itself,

but also the container
where it's being shipped in.

OFFICER: Sea moss!

They use it for medicinal purposes,
for herbal teas.

OFFICER: Nothing loaded here.

OFFICER 1: This one is open?

OFFICER 2: You've got to check those ones.

OFFICER: Fish.

OFFICER: Looks like snapper.

OFFICER: Get sushi hands?

- OFFICER: Take a look at this.
- OFFICER: Oh!

- OFFICER: Bam!
- OFFICER: Boom.

OFFICER: One pellet.

OFFICER: So, this shape
and size is normal.

The color is one of the normal colors

that we would see for narcotics.

Clearly doesn't belong
inside the fish head.

Coming from Guyana, South America.

Most likely it's cocaine.

OFFICER: Keep going.

Loaded.

OFFICER: Each fish has one pellet.

OFFICER: What they did was
they cut just above the mouth.

Right there.

So you gotta break the spine.

[tapping]

And then if it's warm enough,
you can push it out.

OFFICER: Every one's been loaded.

OFFICER: Yeah.

OFFICER: You got to check
every single piece.

OFFICER BAUTIS:
We got approximately 2,700 fish.

It's gonna take a long time
to extract all the drugs.

We want to make sure
we find every single piece.

OFFICER: We've seen concealment
in the past

that's pretty crafty, fairly knowledgeable

about the way fish are biologically

and where the good areas are to hide.

This is the best concealment
we've seen overall.

So it's definitely an organized group

that has done their research

and they've figured out a way
to try to slip it past us.

OFFICER: You already stink.

OFFICER: We're all stinking.

OFFICER: I'm covered in fish guts.

OFFICER: The fish are starting to defrost.

It smells real bad,

but it makes it easier
for us to break 'em open

and to retrieve the drugs that are inside.

It's gonna take us maybe five hours
to bring everything together.

We're gonna reach out to HSI,
and we're gonna go from there.

OFFICER: I haven't found
an unloaded fish yet.

[cars honking]

K9 OFFICER: Here, boy. Brrr.

[clicks tongue]

OFFICER LENZI:
What were you doing in Mexico?

MAN [off screen]: Sailing from Newport
to Ensenada Race.

OFFICER LENZI: Oh, okay.

MAN: Every year.

OFFICER LENZI: A couple people
have been doing that.

Here at San Ysidro Port of Entry.

With the summer upon us,
we have high traffic, a lot of crossers.

So we're seeing an increase
of narcotics smuggling,

people smuggling.

OFFICER: COVID played a big role
with human smuggling.

Most of our smugglers are tourists
that come from Mexico.

So when they were restricted from entering
the country during the pandemic,

a lot of organizations looked
towards United States citizens

to try and smuggle people.

OFFICER MARCOS:
Hi, good morning. Buenos días.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO:
We have people crossing every day.

Ninety-nine percent of those people,
they're legitimate travel.

But we have people
that will get documents in Mexico,

either they buy the documents
or they steal the documents,

and they present themself as that person.

OFFICER: Alright. Look in the camera.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO:
So, this facial recognition system

is an extra layer of enforcement
for us to determine,

one, that the person is the person
that she is presenting.

OFFICER: Do you mind
just taking the mask off?

I'm gonna take a picture.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO: And also help us
determine the citizenship

when they present a US passport.

OFFICER MARCOS:
Good afternoon. Buenas t*rd.

- Have you had a passport before?
- WOMAN [in Spanish]: Yes.

OFFICER MARCOS: Okay.

- How did you have your hair?
- WOMAN: Black.

OFFICER MARCOS:
Okay, I'm going to take a picture.

Hmm.

I'm going to take your photo again, okay?

The system says I don't look like me?

OFFICER MARCOS: Mm-hmm.

Okay. We're going to go to the back, okay?

OFFICER PASSARIELLO: Our subject presented

a California driver's license
as her identification.

When we did the biometrics
picture comparison,

the picture did not match the picture

that she clearly has with her US passport.

So, she was referred to secondary

so we can verify that that's the person
that we're dealing with.

How are you, ma'am?

WOMAN: Good.

Okay. Have you had a US passport?

WOMAN [in Spanish]: Yes.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO: Alright, okay.

Alright, what happened to your passport?

WOMAN: It was stolen.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO [in Spanish]:
When did they steal it?

WOMAN: 2013, if I'm not mistaken.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO [in English]: Okay.

[in Spanish] So the system...

...didn't recognize your photo.

So we're going to take your fingerprints
to verify it's you.

WOMAN: Lately, I've been having
a lot of issues with the gizmo...

...because of my nose.

I got a nose job...

...and so they send me here all the time.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO [in English]:
She was very straightforward,

always looking at me.

She didn't hesitate in responding

when we told her that we were
gonna take the fingerprint.

OFFICER: This hand.

OFFICER PASSARIELLO: That's usually a sign
that a person is being truthful.

[beeping]

We took a fingerprint,
and we corroborate that it was her.

Thank you for your cooperation,
and you're good to go, okay?

- WOMAN: Gracias.
- OFFICER PASSARIELLO: Have a good one.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Welcome to Atlanta.

OFFICER: Right this way, guys.

OFFICER AXSON: Every person,
when they travel to the United States,

they are required to provide
a declaration of the items

that they are bringing across the border.

OFFICER: Quick question
for you, my friend.

- MAN: Okay, okay.
- OFFICER: Do you have any food products?

MAN: No.

OFFICER AXSON: If it's something
that's not my area of expertise,

I have to consult an expert

to determine whether or not
it can come in.

That's why we have an agriculture team

that knows the prohibited things
that are organic.

- OFFICER: No meats or vegetables?
- MAN: No. No.

- OFFICER: No fruits?
- MAN: No.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
We wear the same uniform,

but we have different authorities.

Under agriculture, we have authority
over plants, animals,

and the officers have authority
over duty, taxes.

That's the customs side
of the house, as they call it.

We see so many countries, from Africa
to the Caribbean to Asia.

So you get to learn about their cultures,

learn about their food,
plants that they may bring.

So, you know, oh,
from this country, we find this.

Hello, ma'am. Where are you
coming from today?

WOMAN: Korea.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: From Korea?

The flight that's coming in
is coming from Korea.

This flight is interesting to us

because it is a hub for other countries:

Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand,
the Philippines.

So that means that we'll get
more of the cultural items.

More food, fruits, plants, seeds, meat.

So we always check for agriculture.

K9 OFFICER: Let's go.

What you got? Yes.

Good boy.

- AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Hey, ma'am.
- WOMAN: Hey.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Are you traveling with someone today?

WOMAN: Yes, with him.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Okay. How many bags do you have?

WOMAN: I just have...

...one here and then two over there.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Okay.
So once you get all your luggages,

we're gonna do an inspection, okay?

WOMAN: Sure.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
We have a couple from Cambodia

that was a K9 alert.

They do have quite a bit of luggage,

so we'll see if we find
something interesting.

So, everything here is yours?

WOMAN: I don't know.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
You don't know?

WOMAN: This one and that one...

...and that and this is mine.

- AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Okay.
- WOMAN: Yeah.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Okay.

WOMAN: This half is him.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: This is his.
So, these are your four bags, right?

What do you have with you today?
Do you have any food?

WOMAN: No, I don't have food.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: No meats,
plants, seeds? Nothing like that?

To grow or to eat, to cook with?

WOMAN: No.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
No? Any seasonings?

WOMAN: Uh-huh.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Okay.

[plastic crinkling]

What's this one?

MAN: In this one, we've got dried fish.

- AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: Fish?
- MAN: Yeah.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
What kind of fish is this one?

WOMAN: It's a...

...some kind of squid.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
It's a squid?

- WOMAN: Mm-hmm.
- MAN: Yeah.

WOMAN: They are cooked.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Oh, okay.

Any other meat? Pork?

MAN: No, no.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Chicken? Alligator?

MAN: No, no. That's it.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
That's it? Okay.

WOMAN: Yes.

[plastic crinkling]

Oh my goodness.

We could have a problem.

WOMAN: This one doesn't have
the meat in it, but it has the flavors.

Like chicken, you know.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
It has chicken flavor?

WOMAN: Yes, chicken flavor.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Okay. Chicken, I have to keep, okay.

WOMAN: Yeah.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
With avian products,

so chicken, duck, pigeon,
depending on the country,

they have bird flu
and also Newcastle disease.

Once they are cooked,
that threat is neutralized.

When we have stuff like seasonings,

there's no way to determine
what temperature

the avian products, the chicken,
is cooked up to.

So, it's not deemed admissible.

And what's in here?

WOMAN: This one...

MAN: It's pork.

- AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: It's pork?
- WOMAN: Pork rind.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ: You didn't
tell me you had pork. I asked you.

WOMAN: I'm sorry.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Even if the pork products are cooked,

they can still harbor African swine fever

and foot-and-mouth disease.

So that is why they're prohibited,
and we do need to take them.

One more and you guys are done, okay?

Let's see. Can I trust you?
You didn't tell me about your pork.

- This one is okay.
- WOMAN: Okay.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Alright, so here are your passports.

MAN: Alright.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
So just remember next time, just declare,

'cause it could be a penalty,
but I know you forgot, okay.

- WOMAN: Yeah.
- MAN: Alright. Thank you.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Alright? Thank you.

OFFICER:
Here, boy. Brrr. [clicks tongue]

OFFICER: Hello, sir.
Where are you headed to today?

MAN: Otay.

- OFFICER [in Spanish]: Otay, for work?
- MAN: Yes.

OFFICER: Unlock the doors.

OFFICER [in English]: Good, bro.

[in Spanish] Thank you, good day.

OFFICER [on radio]: We have a runner
on lane 11. Officers, please respond.

OFFICER: Go, go!

[dog barking]

OFFICER 1: Where's the driver?

OFFICER 2: He ran back.

OFFICER: Over here.

Police. Hands up.

[indistinct radio chatter]

OFFICER: Can't open the trunk.

OFFICER [on radio]: We have a 45.

[indistinct radio chatter]

OFFICER: I found a lock,
we have to keep going.

OFFICER DECARO: With this vehicle,

they were having trouble
opening the trunk,

which is a big red flag for us.

If we can't open the trunk,

there's usually something hidden in there.

The driver actually found out

that we were sending
the vehicle to secondary,

and he got out
of the vehicle without his shoes

and started running back to Mexico,

because he was scared of getting caught,

and we had to have officers apprehend him.

OFFICER 1: Can't see it from the trunk.

OFFICER 2: Huh?

OFFICER 1: No, only from behind the seat.

OFFICER 2: False compartment?

OFFICER 1: Yep.

OFFICER 2: Alright, go ahead, bro.

- OFFICER 1: Open it?
- OFFICER 2: Open it.

OFFICER DECARO: We found a compartment
behind the back row of the seat.

[drill whirring]

They create these compartments
all over the car

to hide people, drugs, anything they can.

OFFICER: Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

OFFICER DECARO: This woman is Chinese.

You see a lot of Chinese people
living in Mexico,

and then finally, they want
to make their way here.

We are seeing a lot of Russians.

Today, we actually saw a lot of Armenians,

which is a new trend starting.

Just a lot of Eastern European
coming through.

Some hiding, some coming
with fake documents

trying to get through.

It's crazy because these people pay
so much money to get across,

but I'm sure that half of these people
don't know what they're signing up for.

K9 OFFICER [off screen]:
Come on, hurry. Let's go!

Can you lower your bag, ma'am, please?

You have any fruits or meats?

WOMAN: Just bread.

OFFICER: Alright. Thank you.
Let's go! Good dog.

OFFICER: Hello, sir.

Your passport, please.

Thank you. Coming from Jamaica?

MAN: Jamaica.

OFFICER: Traveling alone today?

MAN: Yes, sir.

OFFICER: Cool. Alright, sir.
Any more luggage?

MAN: No, just this.

OFFICER: Okay. We'll do a quick inspection
and get you on your way, okay?

So come with me, please.

OFFICER STYLES: He is a passenger
arriving from Jamaica,

and we decided to do
a baggage exam on him.

What do you do?

MAN: I do landscaping.

OFFICER STYLES: Landscaping?

Where do you landscape at?

MAN: All over. Douglasville.
Conyers. Covington.

OFFICER STYLES: Whoa.
You go from Douglasville

all the way to Conyers?

OFFICER: Wherever the work is.
Wherever they're paying him.

MAN: Somebody just paid me
even before I did the job.

OFFICER: Oh, you got payment before
you did the job? You're that good?

MAN: Yeah, I'm good.

OFFICER: You like Bart Simpson, man?
You got the slingshot, bro.

OFFICER STYLES: What is this?

MAN: Cucumber seeds.

OFFICER STYLES: It's what?

MAN: Cucumber seeds.

OFFICER STYLES: Cucumber seeds!

OFFICER: What are you gonna do with them?

MAN: Plant it.

OFFICER STYLES: Plant them.
Well, there we go.

MAN: I can't plant it?

OFFICER STYLES: Nope.

During the exam, we found some seeds
that he intended to plant,

which he's not allowed to do that.

- OFFICER: What you bringing here?
- OFFICER STYLES: Oh!

OFFICER: Oh, those are those apples, huh?

- Jamaican apples, right?
- MAN: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

OFFICER: You know it ain't good, man.
Why you playing out here?

You're k*lling me, man.
You know you can't bring apples.

You got more than that?

OFFICER STYLES: They're Jamaican apples,
and they are prohibited.

They're not allowed
to enter into the country.

So those items were turned over
to agriculture to be destroyed.

So, I have to give you this notice.

Going forward, if you bring anything
into the United States

that is prohibited,

because you brought them in this time
and you have been warned,

the next time, there will be a penalty.

So that is your official warning.
Do you understand?

MAN: Yes, I do.

OFFICER STYLES: Alright.
We are good. You got it?

- MAN: Yes.
- OFFICER STYLES: Okay, good.

OFFICER 1: Watch your backs, gentlemen.

Watch your backs.

- OFFICER 2: That's the last one?
- OFFICER 1: Yes, sir.

OFFICER 2: Let's get through it.

OFFICER: You see where they loaded it?
See, this is the mouth.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
So we got a call earlier this morning,

CBP intercepted this large shipment
of narcotics

concealed in the heads of snapper fish.

The CBP officers, they've been at it now
for about five to six hours doing this.

OFFICER 1: The last one?

- OFFICER 2: Yeah.
- OFFICER 1: Great job. Good job, guys.

OFFICER [off screen]: Test it.

Positive for cocaine.

OFFICER: Number ten.

OFFICER: 1.90.

OFFICER: Okay.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: CBP officers,
as they opened up boxes,

they've been doing tally weights.

So it's been painstaking
and taken a while.

OFFICER: 37.7 kilograms.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
This is a significant seizure.

We're talking about approximately


Each individual fish contains
one of these pellets inside.

We already have the recipient identified.

Later this morning, we're gonna try
to do a controlled delivery

and see if we can snag ourselves

the individual responsible
for this shipment.

OFFICER: Next.

Good morning.

Can I have you remove your mask
and take a look at the camera, please?

- Where are you going?
- MAN: Riverside.

OFFICER: Do you have anything to declare?

MAN: No.

OFFICER: Thank you, sir.

OFFICER: What's your name?

MAN: John Smith.

OFFICER: Are you a U.S. citizen?

MAN: Yeah.

OFFICER: Where have you been in Mexico?

MAN: I was in jail.

OFFICER [in Spanish]:
He was in the penitentiary

for trespassing on private property.

OFFICER: Okay, okay.

OFFICER: For how long?

MAN: Couple months.

OFFICER DEWESE: Today, we had
a gentleman turned over to us

by Mexican authorities because
he claimed he was a US citizen

and he can no longer be held in Mexico.

Where were you at
before you ended up in Mexico?

MAN: County... county jail.

OFFICER DEWESE: County jail?

OFFICER: In San Diego?

MAN: I can't remember.

OFFICER: How did you get out
of county jail?

MAN: They let me out.

OFFICER: And where did you go
when you got out?

MAN: I went onto the street,
and that's all I remember.

I was back in Tijuana.

Back in Mexico.

OFFICER: Alright. We're going
to fingerprint him back there.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: This
individual's claiming US citizenship,

but he doesn't have any documents.

OFFICER: Alright, so just relax your hand.

We're gonna start
with your left four fingers.

[beep]

OFFICER: Go and have a seat, alright.

MAN: I'd like some food, please.

I've not eaten in about a week.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: Did all his checks.

Couldn't see any reason to believe

that he was a United States citizen.

I'm trying to understand something...

...whether it'd been in custody
or out of custody...

...how long have you been in Mexico?

- MAN: I don't know.
- OFFICER ELLSWORTH: You don't remember?

MAN: I, I don't remember.

My friend, Molly, he said to me
that he's gonna go to Mexico.

I said, "I'm gonna come with you."

He bought me a plane ticket.

I think we went to Mochis,

and then a bus sideswiped us in the car,

so we went back to Culiacán,

then [bleep] just got weirder
and weirder and...

OFFICER: Do you remember
when you came to Mexico?

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: Do you remember that?

MAN: I ain't got a [bleep] clue.

I was taking lots of drugs.

Then my friend betrayed me,
and I, I tried to k*ll myself.

I injected myself
with five points of heroin.

That's, that's half a gram.

It's enough to k*ll you twice,
and I still didn't [bleep] die.

And...

I don't want to say any more.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: Okay.

Do you know anybody here
in the United States?

MAN: No. I'm English.

MAN: I used an alias, John Smith,
to get across the border.

I just wanted out of Mexico.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: Okay.

MAN: I've been held c*ptive for months.

I don't know how long it's been going on.

I've been eating human meat.

They've been feeding it to me.

I know because you don't [bleep]
when you eat human meat.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: I'm a little bit unsure
of what he's saying.

You never know what you're
gonna get with these guys.

And moments, he's got
a brief moment of clarity.

So you were trying to come
to the United States

in order to try and get back to England?

MAN: Home.

OFFICER ELLSWORTH: Okay.

So basically, what he's saying is
he tried to come in

because he knew that we were going
to send him back.

He's trying to get a free ride home.

OFFICER: Yeah.

OFFICER DEWESE:
He claimed he was a US citizen,

but he was not a US citizen.

He was a citizen of Great Britain.

We're at a land border,
so it's not like an airport

where we can just determine
the next flight back home right away.

Got to process him, make sure he
doesn't have any warrants in the US.

Once everything is done,
we're going to escort him to the airport,

book him a flight,
and deport him back to the UK.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Hello, ma'am. Good morning.

May I see your passport?

WOMAN: Oh, sure.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Do you have any food with you?

WOMAN: I have no food in my bag.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Nothing? Just clothes?

WOMAN: Clothes, bags, and shoes.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Okay. Thank you, ma'am.

For us in agriculture,
we try to learn trends.

Certain countries bring
certain commodities.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: What's wrong
with these two luggages right here?

OFFICER: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Hey, sir. How are you?

MAN: I'm fine.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Where you coming from?

MAN: Peru.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Peru?

MAN: Yes, sir.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
What are you bringing today?

MAN: Nothing.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Nothing!

Let's go take a look at your bags.
Come over here. Bring your luggage.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Just from seeing the country

the passenger's coming from,

the bags that they are traveling with,
and the amount of bags,

is typically a signal for us,

"Hey, I got to check this person."

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO [in Spanish]:
This is your luggage?

MAN [in Spanish]: Yes.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Everything you have belongs to you?

MAN: Yes.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Are you bringing in fruit, alcohol,

tobacco, cigars, cigarettes?

MAN: No, no cigars.

I'm only bringing in cuy.

- OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Only cuy.
- MAN: Cuy.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO [in English]:
So he is bringing cuy.

MAN: Cuy.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Those beautiful guinea pigs.

MAN: Yeah, yeah.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Guinea pigs...

You eat it.

[in English] People in South America
have this plate called cuy,

which is guinea pig over there in Peru.

[in Spanish] And what is this?

This is chicken, right?

MAN: No, it's cuy.

- OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: This is cuy?
- MAN: Cuy.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: The famous cuy.

Look at this.

More cuy.

And who is all this cuy for?

MAN [in English]: My family likes it...

...but me, no.

- OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: You don't like cuy?
- MAN: No.

[in Spanish] I have a lot of family.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Yes, I see.

- They're fried?
- MAN: Yes, fried.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Fried.

Question.

Cuy.

Fried.

OFFICER: Fried cuy?

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Can it be brought in?

OFFICER: Yes.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO [in English]:
They can bring the cuy meat.

As long as it's cooked.

It's very common to bring
cuy meat from Peru.

For them, it has a sentimental value,

you know, something
that is very significant.

That's what Atlanta's all about.

You have cultural diversity
from all over the world,

and people come here, you know,
they bring a piece of their country.

- There you go.
- MAN: Thank you.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO [in Spanish]:
Take care, sir.

Cuy meat.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
So, we're currently set up

at one of the international
cargo facilities

on the north side
of Miami International Airport.

This is the cargo airline
that was used by the subject

we're investigating
for cocaine trafficking.

We have already extracted all the cocaine

from the snapper fish,
and now what we've done is

we've taken the 40 boxes
with the fish, with no cocaine,

and reintroduced it
into the cargo warehouse.

This guy, if he does show up,

it'll be probably one
of these doors over here

where he's gonna be picking up the cargo.

Get me two units to handle the west exit,

and we're gonna set up a couple of guys

to get eyes on the bay doors.

Based on historical shipments
that he's received,

he normally shows up
in the early morning hours.

So we're gonna see
if he picks up the shipment,

with the ultimate objective of following

to wherever he's gonna deliver
these boxes.

If he does accept the shipment,
then we're gonna go ahead

and follow him and see where he goes.

We do not need to be on top of the guy,
breathing down his neck,

getting burned because there is
no narcotics in the fish.

AGENT [on radio]: Copy.

AGENT 2 [on radio]: There's a truck
right in front of that area.

Keep an eye out for a white box truck.

OFFICER [off screen]: It's right there.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: Alright, 10-4, 10-4.

OFFICER [off screen]:
It's a male in a tan-colored cap.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
I think that's our guy.

OFFICER: Yeah.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: All units, all units,
the subject has arrived on scene.

Our target vehicle is gonna be,
in fact, the white box truck.

Our subject...

...he's wearing a tan hat,
red shirt, blue jeans.

AGENT 2 [on radio]: Our first skid
is going inside the box truck.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
The subject has arrived on scene.

Once they load up the fish,

we're basically gonna set
our surveillance in motion

and follow him to whoever
the ultimate recipient is.

Third skid's been loaded
onto the box truck.

We got one more left.
Three out of four are on the truck.

Whoever's in the parking lot,

if you guys want to start going mobile

and get in position for takeaway, please.

OFFICER [on radio]: Fourth skid is loaded.

Four out of four. Four out of four.

Target is ready to move.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
Target is starting up the box truck.

Target is on the move.
Target is on the move.

It appears that these guys
have experience.

They've done it in the past.

So, it's important that
we keep an eye on it,

we monitor it until he reaches
his final destination.

AGENT [on radio]: The vehicle
is slowing down here in this area.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
Okay, we got a good grid,

so if he pulls into one
of these warehouses,

let's get the box going.

AGENT: Yeah, it looks like
he's stopping down over here.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: I got a visual
on the truck. Stand by.

Driver just got out of the vehicle.

He's walking across the street.

Nothing has been removed from the truck.

Okay, he's walking this way.

We may need to move.

We're gonna have to go mobile.

He's getting a little
too close for comfort,

and if he makes us and knows
that there's law enforcement presence,

they might just get in the car

and just leave the scene,
and the gig is up.

Guys, we're moving.

Subject's walking along the warehouses.

AGENT [on radio]:
He just made contact with somebody.

It looks like he was possibly asking
for a forklift to help unload the truck.

He just took some money
out of his pocket...

...maybe to pay somebody.

AGENT 2 [on radio]: Keep in mind...

...subject appears to be very relaxed.

He doesn't appear
to be spooked or anything.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: So it appears
he was just looking for a forklift

to get the shipment of fish
loaded into the truck.

So I think we're good.

OFFICER: Just need
your passports out, please.

Have your passports out.

ANNOUNCEMENT: This is
the final boarding process.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
What do you have with you today?

MAN: I have fish, dried fish.

AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST ORTIZ:
Perfect. Thank you, sir.

- You're gonna head out this way, okay.
- MAN: Okay.

OFFICER: And what do you do
in Banner Woods?

MAN: I work there.

OFFICER: Yeah,
what type of work do you do?

MAN: Oh, I manage a restaurant.

OFFICER: Okay.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
And all these bags, like, what's inside?

Like clothes? What?

MAN: Clothes. A little bit of stuff
that I bring from El Salvador.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: We got a gentleman
coming from El Salvador.

It's one of these countries
where they propense to have,

you know, contraband,
specifically on the food items.

Are you bringing any fruits,
meats, or any vegetables?

MAN: Vegetables? I have some loroco.

I would say that's a vegetable.

OFFICER: Alright,
we're just gonna check it out

real quick, okay.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
So what type of activities did you do

while you were there?

MAN: My main goal was...

...to celebrate
my grandma's 89th birthday.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Okay.
What part of El Salvador?

MAN: My family lives
in San Salvador, but...

...I was in different cities, so...

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Did you travel
to any other country besides El Salvador?

MAN: Mexico.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Mexico? Okay.

Alright, so any fresh stuff?

MAN: I have beans and...

...the loroco.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Loroco. Hmm, we'll see.

It's called loroco, which is a plant

they use in the gastronomy in El Salvador.

No, that's, that's just not going.

That's not going to pass.

I'm gonna talk to agriculture,
see what they say, okay.

We'll go from there, alright?

MAN: Okay. No problem.

K9 OFFICER: Let's go. Come on.

Brrr.

OFFICER TORRES:
Hi, how are you doing today?

- DRIVER: Good, how are you?
- OFFICER TORRES: Doing good, thanks.

K9 OFFICER: Brrrr.

OFFICER TORRES: I'm just gonna do
a quick inspection on the vehicle today.

Mind just putting it in park? Thank you.

K9 OFFICER: Hey. Come on.

Let's go.

OFFICER TORRES: Doesn't look like
he has very much back here,

just personal belongings, waters, drinks.

You have a great day, alright?

K9 OFFICER: Get!

OFFICER: He alerted to odor.

K9 OFFICER: Good boy.

OFFICER: There's something in here.

K9 OFFICER: Good boy.

OFFICER [off screen]:
Driver, step out of the vehicle.

OFFICER: Subject was trying to make entry
into the United States.

Dog alerted.

We secured the driver.

We're gonna go ahead
and find out what we got.

[indistinct radio chatter]

OFFICER: Can you open the trunk?

OFFICER 1: How many?

OFFICER 2: We got two.

OFFICER WALKER: We have two males,
maybe 18 to 25 years old.

Probably from the southern part of Mexico.

OFFICER [in Spanish]: Are you okay?

- Need a bit of water?
- MAN [in Spanish]: Yes.

OFFICER WALKER: We're not sure
how long they've been in the vehicle,

but it's very dangerous.

In the middle of the day, it's hot,

and it's twice that temperature
in the trunk of a vehicle.

We have a three-hour wait.

They're in that trunk for three hours,

they risk death.

OFFICER [in Spanish]:
Let's come over here and sit you down.

OFFICER WALKER:
The misconception is that we are here

to take down everybody
that crosses the border illegally,

and we're actually very humane.

We care about the people
that are coming across.

They're being used.

Too many other hands are involved,

where they can be exploited,

and I think it's putting themselves
in a scary situation.

OFFICER [on radio]:
1045 on lane 24. Please respond.

OFFICER: What's going on?

OFFICER: It's one of those...

...platforms with the bodies in the back.

We can't even open it.

OFFICER ROQUE: I responded
to a radio call for human smuggling.

It looks like a compartment vehicle,

which are hard to catch.

But it's the small details
that gives it away.

One of the key indicators for us:
either the door won't open

or the windows are tinted or blacked out.

When it's a working van like that,
you're looking at

more than one or two subjects
in the vehicle.

[siren wailing in distance]

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Can you call anyone
from agriculture to come here?

If you don't mind? Thank you.

We looked all over the bag,
there was no issues

other than an actual fresh product,
which is called loroco.

I called agriculture
because they are the experts.

Hi. I have the gentleman
coming from El Salvador...

...and he brought some...

- OFFICER PANCHOO: Loroco?
- OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: Loroco.

OFFICER PANCHOO:
They're typically enterable,

but I have to inspect them.

I have to shake them to make sure
they don't have these microscopic insects.

I'm gonna take these over there.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO:
Alright, so we can repack these

until we wait from her decision.

OFFICER PANCHOO: Okay, so this is
an edible flower called loroco.

It's pretty common from people
from El Salvador to bring it.

I'm gonna shake it onto this paper

so if there's any little
microscopic insects called aphids,

they would fall out and if I do find them,

it will cause them to be prohibited.

[rattling]

They tend to destroy leaves.

Oh, man.

So it does have the aphids on it.

So the loroco's gonna stay here with me.

Okay. So your loroco, I did check them,

and I did find insects on them,
and they were alive.

MAN: Alright.

OFFICER PANCHOO: If it came frozen,

you'd definitely probably
k*ll the insects,

or if you cook it.

- MAN: Okay.
- OFFICER PANCHOO: Alright?

MAN: Alright, thank you.

OFFICER CARRASQUILLO: In this case,
it was just agriculture.

Something simple but, you know,
people need to understand

they can't bring just vegetables or fruits

into the United States,
especially if they are fresh.

Alright. So you're good to go.
Thank you very much. Welcome back.

Straight down, once you pass
the door to your right,

drop your luggage, okay.

Good luck.

AGENT [on radio]: There is a forklift
driver coming out of the warehouse...

...where he was just talking to someone.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: Allow the cargo
to enter the warehouse.

Stand by for which building it goes to.

AGENT 2 [on radio]:
First skid is off the truck.

Going inside the blue warehouse.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: Copy that.

All units, stand by until all four pallets

are inside the warehouse,
and then we will approach.

AGENT [on radio]: The fourth pallet is now
being taken away from the bay door.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO: Copy that.
All units, start getting into position.

AGENT: Bay door is closed.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO:
Alright. Move, move, move, move.

Right there. Go, go, go.

AGENT: Police! Police!

AGENT: ¡Policía!

AGENT: ¡Policía!

AGENT: Hands up, hands up!

[all shouting]

AGENT: It's okay, just keep your hands
where we can see them.

MAN: Holy [bleep].

What the [bleep] is going on?

Did I do something ill*gal or something?

AGENT: They're still clearing.
They're still clearing.

MAN: What the hell is going on here?

- AGENT: Come here, boss.
- MAN: Okay.

What the hell is going on, sir? I...

AGENT: Brother, we're gonna...
Do me a favor. Calm down.

- MAN: I was just...
- AGENT: Calm down. We're gonna talk.

MAN: What the hell I do?

AGENT: We're gonna talk. We're gonna talk.

MAN: Yeah, but I already, I already...

Holy [bleep].

AGENT: Have a seat right here.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCO [in Spanish]:
Hold on. Hold on.

Have a seat, please.

[in English] Have a seat. Have a seat.

[in Spanish] Sir, have a seat, please.

Okay?

Nobody has any weapons?
Or anything on them?

I have to ask.

[in English] We got our main subject

and about six other people detained.

So, we just concluded
the controlled delivery of the fish.

We took several subjects into custody,

including our main suspect.

Now the process is gonna be
to separate all subjects,

interview them individually
to find out if they're involved

in the conspiracy to import the narcotics

or if they're just somebody
who's employed here at the warehouse.

Cargo entered the warehouse.

The whole warehouse now
is subject to search.

Okay?

So we're gonna run the K9,
see if you guys find anything else

besides the one that we already got.

Now we have our K9 running the warehouse.

If the K9 does give a positive alert,

there's a probability that
there may be additional narcotics

located in the warehouse.

And that's gonna be a big negative.

The K9 just completed a search
in the warehouse,

and it was negative.

The main subject,
we took him to a safe room

where my agents can sit down with him

and conduct the interview to see
if he'll cooperate with HSI

and try to further the scope
of the investigation.

Our job is not just to do a bag and tag

and arrest somebody and we're done.

Our job, as HSI criminal investigators,

is always to further the scope
of the investigation

and try to get who is responsible
for importing

the contraband into the United States.

OFFICER ROQUE: This way, sir.

OFFICER MCDONALD: Behind your back.
Hands behind your back.

OFFICER ROQUE [in Spanish]: You okay?

- You okay?
- MAN [in Spanish]: Yes.

OFFICER ROQUE:
How long have you been in there?

MAN: About two hours.

OFFICER ROQUE [in English]: Says he's been
about two hours in the truck.

[in Spanish] You okay?

OFFICER ROQUE [in English]: We ended up
pulling out five individuals.

Four males and one female.

When I first opened the side door,

the van looks normal, you got the seats.

If you look under,

there's nothing there.

But once you get closer
and look over the top,

we have a non-factory compartment
of plywood and metal

where they concealed the subjects.

So, we like to call this a floating board,

because they're technically in the air.

And how did they fit there?

I don't know, but they,
they made it happen.

[in Spanish] This way, sir.

You'll follow the other officer.

Where are you from?

MAN: Mexico.

OFFICER ROQUE: Mexico.

- Do you know each other?
- WOMAN: No.

- OFFICER ROQUE: Do you know the driver?
- WOMAN: No.

OFFICER ROQUE: No.

OFFICER WALKER: Before I got this job
as a CBP officer,

I had no idea how many people

are wanting to come
into this country illegally.

Everybody just seems to want
to come to America.

It's the land of the free,
there's a lot of opportunity here,

and so when other countries
are in turmoil,

they will do whatever they can
to come to the United States.

It's a bad situation.