TIGHTER U.S. BORDERS SLOWING DRUG TRADE, TOO

The war on drugs has taken a back seat to the war on terrorism, but in
recent days, the two wars have been fought along some of the same fronts --
with beneficial results for both.

In a rush to implement new security measures and tighten U.S. ports of
entry, the government has kept agents on high alert since Sept. 11.

While CIA and FBI operatives launched heightened intelligence measures,
U.S. Customs agents have flocked to the borders, Drug Enforcement
Administration staffers have been more vigilant at airports and border
points, and the drug trade has redefined the phrase "low key."

Since the attacks, Customs officials have seen drug seizures drop as much
as 80 percent.

While crime across the board was reported down in the days immediately
after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, DEA agents have seen border activity
flatten out.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the drug industry has closed up shop,
said Will Glaspy, a DEA spokesman.

"Along the Southwest border, our seizures and our referrals from other
agencies are down a bit, but our investigations are still continuing,"
Glaspy said.

And while major drug distributors are always eager to ship product, Glaspy
said they're not willing to walk into traps.

"The traffickers have many other ways to get their drugs into the country,"
he said. "They could be sitting on their loads on the other side of the
border, waiting to see what happens before they decide what they want to do."

Locally, effects of the attacks on drug trafficking are mixed.

Lt. Henry Vance of the regional drug task force in Ulster County said if
the drug trade has been stifled, local agencies aren't immediately feeling
the effects.

"We haven't detected any discernible difference," he said.

Sgt. Brett Orlich, who heads the narcotics division of the City of
Poughkeepsie police, said he has seen changes since the attack.

"We've noticed that some of the areas aren't as busy as they used to be,"
he said.

But Orlich also said while some activity has dipped, it would be difficult
to say whether increased security has directly affected supplies in so
short a time.

Countywide, the Dutchess County Drug Task Force has also noticed changes.

"They're complaining that they're afraid to go down to the city and pick up
(drugs)," said Sgt. Russ Bailey, who heads the task force, of local
dealers. "They're complaining that the prices have gone up."

Glaspy noted distribution networks may have stockpiles of illegal drugs,
but said it would be difficult to tell how large they were.