According to the Associated Press, from 2007 to 2010 there were over 80 corruption related convictions of law enforcement officials at all levels of government along the Southwest border.

In addition, about 10 percent of all new hires in the US Border Patrol are given a lie detector test. Out of the 10 percent given the test, 60 percent are found to be unsuitable for hire.

Source:  Associated Press, “US Customs: Mexican cartels corrupt border agents,” Google News, March 11, 2010.

Between 2006 and 2008, 7 percent of 12 year olds in the United States reported to having sniffed inhalants such as glue, nail polish remover, spray paints and cleaning fluids.

Source:  Mark Guarino, “Teens and drugs: After long decline, drug use climbs,” Christian Science Monitor, March 11, 2010.

According to a government report, there were an estimated 1.6 Billion cyber-attacks per month on the United States Congress and other governmental agencies in 2009.

Source: Michael Evans, Giles Whittel, “Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West’s intelligence secrets,” The Times, March 8, 2010.

According to officials, in 2010 black tar heroin from Mexico accounted for two thirds of the heroin market in the United States.

Source:  Sam Quinones, “A lethal business model targets Middle America,” Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2010.

The largest US companies spend between $2 Million to $4 Million a year to combat counterfeit activities.

Source: “Knock-offs catch on,” The Economist, March 4, 2010.

Since its inception in 2004 until 2010, the FBI’s Art Crime Team has recovered more than $142 Million in stolen artwork.  It completed between 30 to 40 cases and recovered over 2,400 art objects.

Source: Melanie D.G. Kaplan, “FBI Art Crime Team says residences are biggest target,” SmartPlanet, March 2, 2010.

A study released by the Partnership for  a Drug Free America found that 25 percent of teens between grades 9 and 12 reported to having smoked marijuana within the last month in 2009.

The percentage was up from the 19 percent in 2008.

Source:  Associated Press, “Study: Teen pot, alcohol use rising,” Las Vegas Sun, March 1, 2010.

In 2009, Mexican cartels planted tens of thousands of marijuana plants on public lands in the United States, leading to a potential yield of 30 tons.

Source:  Associated Press, “AP IMPACT: Drug Gangs Taking Over US Public Lands,” CBS News, March 2, 2010.

According to a hearing in the United States Senate, US Senator Richard Durbin stated that an estimated 100,000 children fall victim to sex trafficking in the United States each year.

The Senator further stated that the  average age that a girl enters prostitution in the United States is 13.

Source: Richard Durbin, “In Our Own Backyard: Child Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in the United States,” Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, February 24, 2010.

Abusing prescription drugs is the second most illegally used drugs in the United States after marijuana, according to the United Nations.

6.2 Million people in the United States were addicted to prescription drugs in the US in 2008.

Source:  Kate Kelland, “U.N. narcotics board warns of prescription drug abuse,” Reuters, February 24, 2010.