Franklin County is not a stranger when it comes to human smuggling. There have been two major cases in the county in the past year and half. Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards says the cartels in Mexico make more money moving people than they do substance. He spoke of the Kansas Legislature taking a step forward last year in combating human trafficking and cartels:
Richards says stronger sentencing guidelines and ensuring that forfeiture laws remain in place would both be helpful and serve as a deterrent. He adds that limited staffing and resources are challenges hindering law enforcement’s efforts against cartels, noting that law enforcement groups and courts are currently suffering from staffing shortages, complicating the processing of immigrants with court dates.
