DEA Sees Increase In Female Drug Smugglers

In recent years, the number of female drug traffickers has grown dramatically.

Just last week, more than 50 local women – from teens to the more mature – were charged with drug charges as part of Project Deliverance.

Even though several were caught, more are still wanted by federal authorities for their involvement in drug smuggling.

“They’re transporters and facilitators who were members of the drug trafficking organizations that we targeted,” said El Paso DEA Spokeswoman, Diana Apodaca.

Last week, Project Deliverance – a nationwide raid – went after Mexican cartels and focused on their transportation networks.

Locally, almost one third of those charged for drug crimes in our area were female – 55 of the 163 federal indictments handed down were for women.

“They might become involved because they’re playing a support role to a spouse or family member and sometime the spouse or family member gets arrested or in fact killed…they take over that part of the organization, ” said Apodaca.

Apodaca says for many El Paso women, a role among criminal organizations has become an increasingly popular way of life.

“Specifically in our area they’re transporters and facilitators, however we do have some that do rise high to be cell heads,” said Apodaca.

She says federal agents are trained to look beyond the stereotype.

“We’ve seen sometimes that it can be easier for a female to transport illegal drugs because they can wear loser clothing, perhaps a dress, and put their narcotics right on their body,” Appodaca said. “Women could actually put the child in the vehicle and you would think they wouldn’t do that because of the maternal role.”

It’s a stereotype that many times has put women at an advantage in the criminal world – at least for a little while.

“We will arrest a male or a female – no favoritism simply because they are a member of the organization,” Apodaca said.

See pictures of female fugitives wanted in connection with Project Deliverance at