Retired Agent Reveals Holes in Homeland Security

Smugglers reportedly blend in with fisherman

PORT MANSFIELD - A retired Border Patrol agent talks to NEWSCHANNEL 5 about holes in homeland security in Port Mansfield.

John Trevino was the special agent in charge of the anti-alien smuggling unit in Port Mansfield.

"A lot of people can hide out here," says the 25-year Border Patrol veteran. " We work Monday through Friday, five days a week, and we're on for a shift. And the smuggler working 24/7. They surely can get around us one way or another."

We explored the area with Trevino and his crew on a boat. He pointed out a landing area for vehicles.

Trevino says a group of aliens could have just crossed the channel. When we docked, we saw fresh footprints.

According to the retired agent, drug traffickers tread the murky waters quite often too.

"The drugs for example, they were burying it in the sand," he says. "Come in 2 or 3 in the morning, blend in with the fisherman, and go out in the middle of the night. Bury it in the sand dunes. And they could keep it there for weeks up there, dig it out. We found the holes where they done it and we intercepted some drugs that way too."

The ex-agent says the best way to guard against drug smugglers and potential terrorists is going to go undercover on a boat. But he admits, "It's hard to be discriminate to know who is doing it. It's hard to do that. They can blend in as fisherman or shrimpers."

Port Mansfield is a way for smugglers to get around the checkpoint. And it's only a two-hour drive to Corpus Christi and the rest of the country.

"They could be in Baffin Bay in one hour and a half with a load of aliens or drugs," says Trevino.

NEWSCHANNEL 5 asked Border Patrol to talk to us about the holes in security here. We're waiting for their response.