Cartels using oil pipeline ROWs for trafficking, rape, murder, kidnapping (Houston: 2014, legal)

[winkosmosis]

I just heard an interview of the author of this article, Joe Carroll, on NPR. The cartels have figured out that the pipeline rights of way make good routes for human trafficking, smuggling, and rape, kidnapping, and murder. The pipelines are also used as travel routes by illegal immigrants traveling to Houston, who are liable to fall victim to the gangsters.

The underworld in Texas seems to be getting worse. I don't know what else you'd expect with the massive underclass of illegal immigrants who have no legal recourse when targeted by cartels, a porous border, and ruthless and powerful cartels. Yet Texans seem oblivious to the horrific violence going on in their backyards. I hardly hear any Texans discussing this stuff.

Texas-Mexico Oil Pipelines Offer Cover for Smugglers' Violence - Businessweek

Early last year, Osburn came across the body of what was later determined by police to be that of a teenage girl perhaps as young as 14 years old, partially eaten by buzzards. The condition and location of her clothes indicated she’d been raped before being murdered and thrown aside, police say.