INDIAN DRUG TRACKERS TO TAKE ON NEW ROLE

The Shadow Wolves, an elite group of American Indian drug trackers,
have been moved to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after
lawmakers complained the unit was not being used effectively by the
Homeland Security Department.

Based on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation on Arizona's border
with Mexico, the Shadow Wolves have been assigned to the Border
Patrol since 2003 after the Homeland Security Department was created.

The Indian agents combine traditional tracking skills with modern
police techniques to thwart drug and human smugglers. But they say
they have become much less effective under the Border Patrol.

The change to Immigration and Customs was mandated as part of a
homeland security bill signed earlier this fall, said Lauren Mack,
the agency's Arizona spokeswoman. The move will allow the Shadow
Wolves to investigate drug and human smuggling cases instead of
spending most of their time on patrol.

Lawmakers, including Arizona Republican Rep. John Shadegg, had
pleaded with Congress to move the Shadow Wolves.