Arnold explained that at times brokers would misrepresent who they work for and it would lead to other issues. He briefed us on what he came to learn through his interactions with the Mexican National Guard at the border.
Oscar Arnold, Bze Ambassador to Mexico
"When I spoke to the individual in charge, the Guardia Nacional at the border that also oversees some customs duties. He said, ambassador, we are, we're open for business. We are conducting business as per usual. There is an issue with the brokers where the brokers refuse to process entries or to process pedimiento. And I said, but so what was the rationale or the reason behind that? And he said, your guess is as good as mine. My people are on the ground. We are ready, we are waiting. Speaking to a couple individuals who I know who provide that type of service on the Mexican side of the border. One of them said, no. He says I have no problems if they come to me. But it seems that there are certain brokers who handle certain type of businesses on the Mexican side. And getting one of them to, to speak to me was a little bit difficult. There is a practice Jules in Mexico whenever, a group of individuals, whenever an individual would want to get some level of credibility. Some of them have lost their lives because of it, of misrepresenting who they represent. And so when someone says, okay, well, the cartel is doing it, but they can't give you who or what or where or when. It begins to beg the question whether they're just using the cartel acronym or the cartel name to try to evoke some level of desperation on other people's part. And so I will say that I'm not saying that in this instance that that didn't take place, but that is a realm that I don't operate in. And I would be doing an injustice, to our listeners and to your viewers, to speculate on something like that."
