EL PASO, Texas -- The El Paso County Attorney's Office had a simple message to spread at the 2009 regional youth summit Saturday morning -- the drug cartels are targeting you. They said Mexican drug cartels are actively recruiting teens in El Paso middle and high schools.

"There is a lot of drug trafficking and I knew there was some drug trafficking, but I didn't know there was a lot," said Jose Chavez, a fifth-grade student.

The students got clued in on some startling incidents involving teens and drug smugglers.

For example on March 10, Customs and Border Protection officials said a 15-year-old Mexican boy was caught with nearly 7 pounds of pot strapped to his torso. On March 26, another 15-year-old boy from Fabens was found with 5 pounds of marijuana strapped to his legs. Those are just two of 17 examples of juvenile drug smugglers caught that month, many from the United States, and CBP said every month they find teenagers trying to smuggle drugs.

"This is very important, because they are the future, and to subject this into our society to our children is very important," said Sandra Coronado, a school nurse.

And officials who created the event said what the student leaders are learning will be passed on to others at their schools.

"They're the leaders of their schools, they're the ones that are having a positive image in the schools and we're wanting them to take the information that is presented today, go back into their schools and provide a vicarious experience for the other students," said Kristen Thomas with Rio Grande Safe Communities.

CBP and the El Paso County Attorney's Office said the best way for parents to deal with teenage drug smuggling is to talk about it with your child.

The summit also dealt with other issues you should talk to your teenager about, like drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.