Texas Border Gets Virtual Sentries
January 6th, 2009 by Perry
As part off a new effort to restrict drug trafficking at its borders, Texas law enforcement agents have teamed up with a web server to put their efforts online.
In conjunction with BlueServo, border patrol agents arranged a series of cameras across the border, and then broadcasted the results of what was seen on a website, so people can call in with anonymous tips regarding any suspicious behavior.
The effort recently netted the program’s first bust, a 540-pound seizure, stopped an estimated $2 million worth of marijuana, based on a tip from a citizen. Authorities remained tightlipped about the source of the information, or where the bust took place, for fear of giving up information about camera locations.
While the constitutionality of the system has yet to be questioned, the Houston Chronicle reports that the program is fairly popular with their web traffic. More than 21,000 people from several states have registered to become “virtual deputies.” BlueServo claims more than 5 million visits and more than 1,000 tips.
