Pubdate: Fri, 30 Sep 2005
Source: Whitehorse Star (CN YK)
Copyright: 2005 Whitehorse Star
Contact:  http://www.whitehorsestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1493
Author: Robyn Stubbs, 24 hours

FLYNG SMUGGLERS GAIN GROUND

Cars and trucks are still the preferred method for drug smugglers, but 
helicopters and low-flying aircraft are starting to break into the business 
in a big way, says the RCMP.

"The amount of aircraft being used to move illicit drugs ... has definitely 
increased over the last few years," said Randall Wong of the RCMP's Border 
Integrity Enforcement Team.

And, "two years ago it was mainly fixed-wing planes and nowadays all we 
hear about is helicopters."

As a result, the U.S. implemented the Bellingham Air and Marine Branch last 
year, the first of five border patrol agencies that target aircraft and 
boats that attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom