Mr. Edwards, the ranger, cited four other southern Arizona fires, all of them in known smuggling areas, that were found to have been caused by American citizens.
The idea that American custom agents with little or no knowledge of the local ethnic, religious and linguistic complexities are going to bring order to one of the world's most notorious smuggling areas reveals how far removed Washington officials are from the reality of this vital region.
Quoted in the New York Times, one ranger "cited four other southern Arizona fires, all of them in known smuggling areas, that were found to have been caused by American citizens".
In addition, a cross-border crime task force involving the UK's National Crime Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and HM Revenue and Customs is being set up to combat crimes such as fuel smuggling in areas such as South Armagh, which is controlled by former IRA veterans.
Mr. Dzhioyev denied there was smuggling in the area, calling it "Saakashvili's invention".
Despite the recent increase in human smuggling through this area, many more immigrants enter at other border hot spots.
Against that, Europe's border assistance mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), based in Odessa, is trying hard to prevent smuggling in the area.
The attack took place shortly after Palestinian security commanders said they had given orders to suppress Hamas rocket fire into Israel, and took steps to block arms smuggling into the area.
The army said the destroyed houses served as cover for the gunmen and concealed tunnels through which weapons were smuggled into the area from Egypt.
The authorities found Honduran girls — some as young as 14 — who had been smuggled into the area and forced to work off their transport fees by dancing and drinking with customers.
