Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jul 2001
Source: Desert Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Desert Sun
Contact:  http://www.thedesertsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112
Author: Christine Mahr

INCREASE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING PREDICTED

Val Jimenez worries about the increased traffic that improvements on state 
Route 86 could bring through the Coachella Valley.

Commercial vehicles crossing the border will carry not only agricultural 
and other products, but in many cases, more of what Jimenez already sees 
too much of -- illegal drugs.

Jimenez, Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force commander, and other law 
enforcement officials predict full implementation of the North American 
Free Trade Agreement and the improved state Route 86 -- which links Mexico 
to Interstate 10 -- will further increase the already heavy flow of illegal 
drug traffic in the valley.

" NAFTA is great for commerce, but it's just another burden on law 
enforcement," Jimenez said.

"The emphasis is on getting commerce through easier-- there's not much 
thought to law enforcement problems," he said.

U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs agents say it's too early to speculate 
whether there's going to be a major influx of illegal drugs into the 
country because of the improved highway.

"It could lead to more drug traffic, but there are a lot of other 
variables," said Border Patrol Agent Arturo Sandoval.

Local law enforcement officials contend that the increased traffic on state 
Route 86 can't help but result in more drug trafficking.

People who bring drugs to the United States for the drug cartels often 
begin their journey in Mexicali, then use a variety of dirt and back roads 
to reach state Route 86 and Highway 111, which connect them to Interstate 
10 and ultimately to Los Angeles, the Midwest and the East.

Some major loads of confiscated drugs have come through in commercial 
trucks, Jimenez said.

Local economists predict that within five years the number of commercial 
trucks traveling the improved Route 86 could easily triple to 4,500 a day.

Like Jimenez, California Highway Patrol Officer Larry Cuslidge predicts the 
influx of drugs will increase.

"You'll see a lot more trucks being used for (smuggling) drugs," Cuslidge 
said. "And it's a given they won't be able to inspect every truck," he said.

Narcotics officers say they face other problems in their efforts to control 
illegal drug trafficking.

In addition to the increased traffic flow across the border, they must 
contend with fewer resources to help confiscate drugs that make it across 
the border.

Border Patrol checkpoints on Highway 111 near Niland and on Route 86 near 
Salton City have in the past played a large role in the seizure of millions 
of dollars worth of drugs.

Although the primary purpose of maintaining the checkpoints was to stop 
illegal immigrants, the Border Patrol had the authority to check for drugs 
and did so.

But the checkpoints are open only occasionally.

"They're not manned like they used to be because of the manpower 
situation," Sandoval said.

Valley narcotics officers also have relied on the CHP to help confiscate drugs.

During stops for traffic violations or truck safety violations, CHP 
officers often seized drugs.

But a recent ACLU lawsuit alleging racial profiling by the CHP has 
interrupted vehicle searches during which narcotics have been found and seized.

"It's another opportunity for the criminals to get away with their illegal 
activities," Jimenez said.

Although uncertain about future drug trafficking, border officials said 
U.S. Customs drug seizures at California's five ports of entry -- including 
Calexico -- on the Mexican border were up last year.

The actual number of seizures was down, but the quantity of narcotics 
seized by customs inspectors and special agents rose from more than 396,000 
pounds in 1999 to nearly 416,000 pounds in 2000.

Cooperation between border enforcement agencies has been the key to success 
in seizing narcotics at the border, said Rudy Camacho, director of field 
operations at the Southern California Customs Management Center in San Diego.

A Border Coordination Initiative initiated two years ago by Customs and the 
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service increased communication among 
federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that share border 
responsibility and has resulted in a cooperative sharing of intelligence, 
technology and joint operations, Camacho said.

Edward Logan, special agent in charge of the U.S. Customs Office of 
Investigations in San Diego, said drug interdiction remains a high priority 
and that the California/Mexico border "has become ground zero in this 
ongoing battle."

While the impact of NAFTA and state Route 86 expansion on the drug trade 
may be uncertain now, Cuslidge said keeping an eye on the cost of narcotics 
may provide some answers.

"When the price drops in Los Angeles, then we'll know too many drugs are 
getting through," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens