El Centro Border Patrol engages in Red Ribbon week

The El Centro Border Patrol Sector agents visited schools for Red Ribbon week, in a campaign for drug prevention and awareness.

Agents visited schools in Imperial County and Coachella Valley for Red Ribbon week, observed each October in the U.S. from October 18th through November 1st .

It began as a tribute to DEA special agent Enrique ” Kiki ” Camarena in 1985, who died at the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

Red Ribbon Week is the nations largest and longest-running drug awareness and prevention campaign.

Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector Field Communications Branch, K-9 and Horse Patrol Departments were involved in the event, visiting 24 schools and approximately 8,000 students.

At each stop, they gave half-hour presentations of the dangers of substance abuse, during which K-9 and Horse Patrol agents answered student’s questions with the help of their service animals.

72 half-hour presentations of the dangers of substance abuse.

Students had the opportunity to learn day-in-the-life situations agents face, as well as the training involved for both agent and service animal.

” I just can’t think of a better investment than that of our children, ” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Ryan J. Scudder .

The El Centro Sector Public Affairs Office thanks all who participated, including agents and educators alike.