SAN DIEGO -- San Diego teens are being targeted to help smuggle drugs across the border from Mexico, and authorities said the problem might be getting worse, 10News reported.

Authorities said many local teens are being paid to cross into the U.S. with drugs taped to their bodies. The teens are becoming younger and younger, according to authorities.

San Ysidro Middle School Principal David Torres said, "They're targeting these kids as easy prey."

Torres said many drug dealers are targeting students to bring the drugs into the U.S., usually in exchange for a couple hundred dollars. Last spring, he said three of his students were arrested in connection to drug smuggling attempts.

Over the last several months, more than 130 teens -- some as young as 13 years old -- have been arrested, according to authorities.

"You want to inform the community. You want to inform as many people as possible to make them aware," said Torres.

To help do that, schools like San Ysidro Middle are setting up workshops to help warn students and their parents of the growing problem. However, many in the community remain out of the loop, authorities said.

Raquel Nunez is a mother of three, including a teen who attends school in San Ysidro. She said she knew the drug problem was getting bad but was shocked when 10News showed her photos of kids with drugs taped to their bodies.

The pictures have her worried, Nunez said, and even though she's already involved in her child's life she said she plants to talk to her teen and other parents about avoiding this trend.

School officials hope the community continues to pass on the message.

Authorities said minors are not exempt from the law, as kids caught trying to smuggle drugs could face time in jail and thousands of dollars in fines.