An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team has joined the search in the Ozark Mountains for Grant Hardin, an inmate known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” who escaped from an Arkansas prison nearly two weeks ago, federal authorities announced this week.

The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC is providing “advanced search capabilities and operational support” in the hunt for Hardin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its rocky and rugged landscape, thick forests and an extensive cave network .

The team's unique training and capabilities are “well-suited for the demands of this critical mission,” Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez said in announcing the de

See Full Page