The
Shadow Wolves, an all-Indian group of border trackers, have dwindled in size as more drugs have entered the U.S. through the
Tohono O'odham Nation.
Congress created the Shadow Wolves in 1972 to patrol the reservation. By law, the group can grow to 21 officers.
But right now, there are only 8 officers for a reservation the size of Connecticut, The Los Angeles Times reports. No new officers have been hired in more than five years -- in that period, $2 billion in drugs came through the reservation, officials said.
"It's getting worse," tracker Kevin Carlos, a tribal member, told the paper.
One issue is organizational. Since September 11, 2011, the Shadow Wolves have moved from the Customs Service to the Border Patrol, and now to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Another issue is legal. Apparently, the
Office of Personnel Management spent more than two years to determine whether the unit can remain all-Indian -- a favorable decision finally came on November 7, the Times reported.
Get the Story:
Indian 'Shadow Wolves' stalk smugglers on Arizona reservation
(The Los Angeles Times 11/22)
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