When the names “Gulf Cartel” and “Zetas” come up, federal and state officials said they know they aren't dealing with any run-of-the-mill operation.
"We've seen this increasing threat - this tactical capability that the drug cartels have employed,” Steven McCraw, director for the Department of Public Safety said Friday. “These long rifles that they've been using and certainly the small unit tactics they're employing in Mexico - we're concerned."
"They will not comply, they can’t be arrested and they really scoff at what we're doing," McCraw added.
Authorities said the groups are very methodical in their operations - they've even coined the term "splash town" for the cartels' strategy to drive cars into the Rio Grande, in order to keep authorities from confiscating drug shipments.
McCraw said cartel capabilities go much further.
"They certainly out-equip us, they certainly out-fund us, they have no limit in terms of budget and operations - they have no rules, they have no staff requirements - they're very good at counter surveillance,” McCraw said. “I mean you'd think that the Rio Grande was the sporting fish river of the world considering how many people are fishing in it that are surveillance operatives.”
McCraw said the cartels are doing too good of a job keeping up with U.S. authorities, however U.S. authorities are lagging in man-power.
"We recognize that they are smart,” McCraw said. “It's important to recognize they leverage technology - third generation night vision goggles the whole scheme of it. As far as outsmarting us, I don’t believe that's the case, I think they're out manning us."
Texas Ranger Capt. Robert Bullock said life along the border has changed drastically.
He said the government needs to increase support, from more men on the ground to high tech equipment, for authorities in the Valley before it’s too late.
"I don’t want to see it turn into something like Colombia or Juarez,” Bullock said. “These men go out there every day to risk their lives, for (the public) - one bullet fired at us, 10, 6 bullets - that's six people that could've been killed out there. But they do it because they love their state and they love their communities.
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