Cartels are using children to smuggle drugs into Arizona, authorities say

U.S. authorities are investigating to a series of drug-smuggling cases in involving children as young as nine-years old, all of them taking place in Arizona, just north of where the Sinaloa Cartel is known to operate.

Two different cases involved minors aged 16, 11 and 9. The first one took place on labor Day when an American citizen attempted to reenter the U.S. by foot to Arizona, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recalled.

She was referred to a secondary inspection area as she had been reported as missing, and authorities then found she was carrying over 16,000 fentanyl pills in a package taped to her abdomen. She was subsequently turned over to authorities from the Yuma County Sheriff's office.

The second case took place this week and involved a 32-year-old American and her two children, aged 9 and 11. The woman sought to enter through San Luis Rio Colorado with her car but was sent to a secondary inspection area, where a police dog flagged anomalies.

After scanning the car with an X-ray portal, officers dismantled the car's tires and found 54,000 fentanyl pills and 4 kilos of meth for a combined worth of almost $200,000 CBP officers said.

The woman was placed under custody and authorities did not clarify what happened with the children, also American citizens. In those situations close family members usually pick them up or they are turned over to a child protection agency.

"Both of these seizures highlight how drug trafficking organizations exploit children as part of their business, said Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis, according to Border Report. "Our CBP officers remain vigilant on America's front line and dedicated to keeping these deadly drugs out of our communities."