Pubdate: Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Tom Godfrey, Sun Media
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

BORDER WAR ON WEED

TORONTO -- U.S. border agents say they're seizing record amounts of 
Canadian pot being snuck across the border and are escalating their war 
against organized smugglers. Agents say they're taking a tougher line 
against marijuana smugglers, following the slaying of four RCMP officers in 
Alberta, who were killed at a grow-op site.

U.S. officers said they weren't taking chances when they chased a Canadian 
truck driver last Thursday after he ran a port near Sumas, Washington. The 
man was charged for smuggling 142 kg of weed, worth $1.6 million, police said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers said some smugglers have 
shifted their bases from B.C.-Washington state to Buffalo-area border 
crossings, where they claim there's less police heat.

"We have seen a shift in smuggling from the Washington-area to areas in the 
East," said CBP spokesman Michael Milne.

There is a "trend that the West declined while Upstate New York area 
experienced a large gain in 2004."

CBP statistics show 4,600 kg of weed were seized at Buffalo-area crossings 
last year, as compared to 3,900 in the Washington area, where up to 7,200 
kg were seized in some years.

More than 11,300 kg of B.C. bud and growhouse marijuana were seized last 
year from the entire U.S.- Canada border.

Milne said his agency has added air and marine units to monitor remote 
border areas. The units have aircraft that can track, chase and conduct 
surveillance against smugglers.

CBP New York spokesman Janet Rapaport said the amount of seizures at her 
crossings have increased threefold in the last year to 4,500 from 1,500 kg.

"Our officers are always vigilant," Rapaport said. "Our task has been 
enhanced by modern technology."

Toronto police and Canada Customs officers have said some of the drugs are 
exchanged for weapons or cocaine in the U.S. that are smuggled back to Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Beth