DRUG SEIZURES UP AT STATE BORDERS

Contraband: Haul Of Cocaine And Heroin Rises Dramatically In The Last Three
Months Of 2001. Increased Anti-Terror Efforts Are Credited.

Cocaine and heroin seizures along California's coast and on the border
with Mexico have increased dramatically in recent months--a sign to
officials that the nation's war on terror may be benefiting the war on
drugs.

Figures from October through December show 2,650 pounds of cocaine
seized by U.S. Customs Service agents on the Mexican border. That was
more than twice the 1,132 pounds seized during the same period the
previous year.

An even larger increase was seen in heroin seizures at the state's
border crossing stations. Customs officers seized 197.5 pounds of
heroin during the three-month period, more than 20 times the 9.1
pounds for October-December of 2000. Officials said seizures by
customs agents at ports and international airports from San Francisco
and Oakland to Los Angeles also rose significantly. In the Bay Area,
heroin confiscations more than doubled and cocaine busts were more
than 15 times higher than the same period in 2000.

Though officials were cautious about interpreting too much from three
months of statistics, they said the numbers confirm a pattern that
first emerged in late November.

The increases in drug seizures are related to anti-terrorism
operations along the border and at major ports and airports since
Sept. 11, they said.

"Three months only gives us a snapshot of what may be going on, but
there is obviously a substantial impact from Sept. 11," said Jayson
Ahern, director of field operations for the Customs Service in San
Diego. "The seizures reflect the heightened state of alert at the
border since then."

Immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, customs officers
went on full alert, searching every car crossing the border. During
that time, officials say, drug seizures actually dropped to almost
nothing as smugglers delayed their usual shipments.

Customs agents remain on full terrorist alert, but have modified
search practices slightly. Agents are generally much more aggressive
in questioning border crossers, but smugglers may now believe there is
at least some chance of getting drugs into the country, officials say.

"We are searching more cars and searching more people," Ahern said.
"We are also doing much more intense inspections, taking more time to
focus on people and their documents. One of the results has been that
we are finding more drugs."

The increased seizures in California have been matched by similar
increases at ports of entry throughout the nation, customs officials
said.

"Heightened security against terrorism has clearly benefited our
overall efforts to defend our nation from drug smugglers," said
Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, who will tour customs
facilities in San Diego today.

Nationwide heroin seizures were up 135% in the last three months of
2001 compared with the previous year, said officials in Washington.
Cocaine seizures by customs nationally increased from 45,665 to 71,209
pounds. And marijuana seizures from October to December showed a 19%
increase.

Mike Fleming, a customs spokesman for the region extending from Orange
County to the northern tip of California, said the increased seizures
reflect more aggressive searches at major seaports and airports as
well as along the border.

"Our highest priority is anti-terrorism, and we have been on
full-alert status now for several months," he said. "Agents are
working more hours and they are conducting more examinations. The more
you look, the more you find."