1 week Ago By JESSAMYN DODD Staff Writer
EL CENTRO — Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino of the El Centro Sector Border Patrol provided an update regarding the hikers attacked by suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel. On January 23, Chief Bovino sat down with the Imperial Valley Press to discuss the incident that occurred the previous day. According to Chief Bovino, the attack happened at approximately 11:00 a.
m. on January 22 in the Jacumba Mountains Wilderness area, specifically near the Moon Valley Trailhead. “There was a group of 10-12 hikers in that area, and suspected cartel terrorists opened fire indiscriminately at that entire group of 10-12 hikers, injuring one,” said Chief Bovino.
The majority of the hikers were American citizens, with one member of the group identified as a Canadian visitor, he said. Condition of the injured hiker At this time, the condition of the injured hiker remains unclear. “One was injured and life flighted to a hospital on a CBP Air and Marine helicopter,” Chief Bovino said.
“The injured hiker was taken to Pioneers Hospital, and at this time, it is unclear if they have been released.” Chief Bovino described the Moon Valley area as both a popular hiking destination and a challenging border region. “That’s a very popular recreation area here in Southern California, especially Imperial and San Diego Counties,” he explained.
“It’s also close to the border—close to an area of the border that does not have infrastructure, like many other areas here in Imperial County. There’s not a border wall. There’s not a border fence.
There’s not a wall system, [or] technology. It’s a very remote location.” Details on the Suspects The Chief confirmed that there were two known perpetrators involved in the shooting.
“This perpetrator actually absconded back into Mexico before we could address their illegal actions,” he said. Efforts to apprehend the suspects are ongoing, with Border Patrol working closely with Mexican authorities. “That started immediately after that shooting incident yesterday.
We have very good relations with our Mexican partners,” Chief Bovino stated. “We communicate and coordinate daily with our partners south of the border.” A warning to Cartel members “What we’re looking for here in the Border Patrol is to address those threats and dissuade those threats before they become threats,” said Chief Bovino.
“We had three apprehensions yesterday in the El Centro Sector. So we give a lot of consequences here in this sector. So to those cartel terrorists, this is not the place you want to apply your trade here in the premier sectors, we call ourselves.
Apply your trade here, and things won’t turn out too well for you. “If I were you and I was gonna cross the border here, or if you’re a suspected cartel terrorist, don’t do it.” Advice for hikers “When we talk with police in the city, we say ‘see something, say something.
’ Same thing in the border area, if not more so, ”Chief Bovino stated. “Let somebody know where you’re going if you’re going to one of these remote areas. If you see a Border Patrol agent, we’re friendly.
Stop by and talk to a Border Patrol agent. Let them know you’re going to be in the area so we can help keep an eye out for your safety.” Following the attack, more agents have been deployed to the Moon Valley/In-Ko-Pah area.
Chief Bovino credited this quick response to ongoing operations. “One of the reasons that hiker was extracted so quickly was because we already had elements from the Bureau of Land Management working jointly with us at that time on something called Operation Brutus,” Chief Bovino explained. Operation Brutus is a collaborative effort between Border Patrol and the Bureau of Land Management.
“When an incident like this happens, it’s not just this Border Patrol sector — it’s the Yuma sector, El Centro sector, and the San Diego sector,” Chief Bovino said. “The National Special Operations Team out of El Paso is on standby,” he added. “We’re ready to deploy en masse if we need to.
” At this time, there are no plans to shut down the port of entry, Chief Bovino confirmed..
