EL PASO, Texas – In a world where technological advances have become a part of everyday life, Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force members must stay ahead of the game or fall behind the drug trafficking organizations they are trying to help dismantle.
For the past four years, Texas Counterdrug has supported the Technical Operations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso. Its contribution has paid high dividends.
"The Technical Operations Unit provides HSI components with the most innovative, cutting-edge electronic surveillance equipment and support in furtherance of criminal investigations and national security operations," said HSI El Paso Group Supervisor Efren Aguilera, who oversees Tech Ops.
The support that Texas Counterdrug members Army Staff Sgt. Jose Pena and Air Staff Sgt. Daniel Pando provide for the Tech Ops Unit has no limits.
"They assist with the everyday functions of the Tech Shop that includes fabricating enclosures, function testing and issuing electronic equipment to special agents," said Aguilera. "They support the office with radio operability functions and assist with surveillance operations. In a nutshell, they provide a wide spectrum of support."
When Pena and Pando were assigned to the group 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 years ago, respectively, they were interested in the mission but were not fully capable.
"The way we were able to learn and become more proficient of the job was due to on-the-job training and exposure to the experience technical enforcement officers have," said Pena. "We had plenty of hands-on training."
Now, Pena and Pando provide essential instruction to agents on proper deployment, use and exploitation of covert technical surveillance equipment.
We pass on our experience to others by informing agents how to utilize equipment properly for their operations," said Pena. "We also assist them in making key decisions on what specific device is the most adequate pertaining to the related case and environment."
How they accomplish this support is even more intriguing.
"We have, several times, designed, fabricated and constructed fully customized enclosures utilizing various combinations of Plexiglas, fiberglass, metal, wood, 3D printed parts, customized decals, and paint to fully conceal," said Pena. "All fabrications and constructions met and exceeded specifications for temperature and humidity."
The Texas Counterdrug support not only provides HSI with additional technical support, but it allows for licensed HSI officers to return to the operational field.
"They're a force multiplier," said Aguilera. "HSI El Paso is an extremely busy office, and having National Guard support the Tech Ops Unit is a huge benefit. The tech shop is a small unit with a big mission, so having Pena and Pando as part of the team has been a relief."
As an Air Force veteran, Aguilera knows what the service members bring to Tech Ops and beyond.
"In my experience, you can always count on National Guard personnel getting the job done in a timely manner and with minimal guidance," said Aguilera. "The mission is in a better place with the partnership fostered with the National Guard, not only for tech ops but for the other HSI programmatic areas for which they offer support."
"They are hardworking task force members who go above and beyond, learning new ways to create new products to put in new devices," said Sgt. 1st Class Gilberto Urbina, a Texas Counterdrug assistant team leader.
These capabilities support HSI, but also several law enforcement agencies in their area ranging from Deming, New Mexico, and reaching far into the Texas plains. They also support nationwide cases.
"Our capabilities within Tech Ops would include support to the whole HSI El Paso area of responsibility with specialty technical equipment for HSI cases," said Pando. "As well, we assist Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety with equipment."
Law enforcement agencies throughout the state have witnessed the expertise and dedication the Counterdrug task force members have provided for more than 30 years.
"I respect the professionalism of the National Guard personnel," said Aguilera. "I look forward to the continued partnership with Counterdrug."
"Nationwide, HSI El Paso consistently ranks among the top in overall enforcement statistics," said Aguilera. "These are the successes we share with our partner agencies to include the National Guard."