Cartel scout admits smuggling 1,000 immigrants into U.S

A cartel scout, Edgar Armanda Vargas-de La Rocha, was arrested near Phoenix after admitting to smuggling about 1,000 undocumented immigrants into the U.S. last year. He worked for the Los Memos cartel, reporting on U.S. border activity. Vargas-de La Rocha was caught with equipment used for scouting and confessed to his illegal activities. He signed a plea agreement and faces a minimum of three years in prison, with a hearing scheduled for March 20. U.S. Customs and Border Protection noted that despite a decrease in illegal crossings, cartels continue to smuggle immigrants, endangering lives for profit. The agency is focused on enforcing border security measures.