BORDER DRUG BUSTS SET RECORDS FOR YEAR

U.S. Customs Service agents are crediting improvements in training, tactics
and technology for a record year of drug seizures along the Arizona-Mexico
border.

From October 2000 to September 2001, agents in Arizona seized 240,888
pounds of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines - 34 percent more
than last year.

Record drug busts were reported in three of the four sectors along the
border, according to Roger Maier, U.S. Customs Service spokesman in El
Paso, Texas.

Only the West Texas-New Mexico region saw a decrease - of just 25 pounds -
in drug seizures during fiscal 2001.

Along the entire U.S.-Mexican border, 1.4 million pounds of illegal drugs
were seized during the period, compared 1.1 million pounds last year.

Agents also arrested 1,198 suspected drug traffickers, secured 640 related
indictments and confiscated $6.1 million in suspected drug money.

Concentrated crackdowns in border towns have helped drive drug traffickers
out into the desert, Maier said.

"It's one thing to be a needle in a haystack of 20,000 cars" at a border
crossing, Maier said. "If you are out in the desert, you can't blend in
with everyone else."

Maier said the record number of arrests is not necessarily related to
increased drug traffic along the border.

He also noted there was a drastic 10-day drop in drug traffic after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

DRUG SEIZURES (In pounds):

Oct.'00-Sept.'01 Oct.'99-Sept.'00

Heroin 116 22
Cocaine 4,794 4,778
Marijuana 235,506 174,597
Methamphetamine 172 239
Currency $6.1M $4.5M
Arrests 1,198 1,040
Indictments 640 738

Source: U.S. Customs Service