No crime figures are available just for Organ Pipe, but the Tucson sector — which comprises nearly all the Arizona border with Mexico, including the park — has seen a significant drop in activity in recent years.
The sector made 120,939 arrests in fiscal year 2013. In fiscal year 2014, which ended Sept. 30, that figure was roughly 88,000.
The number of pounds of marijuana seized in the Tucson sector also fell from 1.2 million in fiscal year 2013 to 971,180 in fiscal year 2014. The Border Patrol breaks down sector drug seizures only by pot and cocaine, although cocaine figures are extremely low.
It’s a stark difference from the early 2000s, when the largely remote, rural sector was the busiest and deadliest in the nation. Back then, agents were dealing with many armed traffickers who drove from the Mexican side of the border into the park, their vehicles outfitted in camouflage as they made their way north. Other smugglers carried loads of drugs through the desert on foot.
Marijuana seizures are down overall nationwide, from 2.4 million pounds in 2013 to 1.9 million pounds last fiscal year.
Park Superintendent Brent Range credits the park’s turnaround to the cooperative relationship between Organ Pipe, the Border Patrol and other federal agencies.
The Border Patrol has hundreds of agents patrolling the area, and the park has doubled its law enforcement side. The agencies share a radio frequency to communicate with each other and often conduct operations together.
The Border Patrol also uses technology to combat smuggling, installing several camera surveillance towers that alert agents when people are crossing.
Range arrived at the monument about a year ago, surprised by the sight of its rows of cacti and vast amount of vegetation. The monument had been slowly increasing access since 2009, but it was Range who pushed for a full reopening.
He says he hopes the newly opened areas translate into more tourists.
Despite the lengthy closure, Organ Pipe’s number of annual visitors grew from 258,000 in 2000 to more than 330,000 in 2009. The figures dipped in 2010, with a low of 162,000 in 2012, but rebounded the next year.
“We decided that it’s public lands. We want people to see it. We want people to come visit it,” Range said. “And my guess is, a majority of folks who come here to visit will come back. It’s that neat of a place.”
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