TRAFFICKERS ARE GAINING STRENGTH IN DRUG TRADE, POLICE TELL PANEL

As Mexico-based drug traffickers grow stronger and better organized, U.S.
law enforcement agencies must step up their efforts to stem the flow of
illegal drugs across the border, a congressional subcommittee was told
yesterday.

Top officials from federal, state and local agencies argued that increased
resources are crucial, and that any attempts to cut funding would cripple
their programs.

"We have not put enough resources into the policing of this issue in
California," said Steve Staveley, director of the Division of Law
Enforcement for the state's Department of Justice.

Staveley was among six members of the law enforcement community invited to
testify at the field hearing held by U.S. Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Long Beach,
and Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind. Both are members of the House Committee on
Government Reform.

In more than three hours of testimony at the San Diego City Administration
Building, the witnesses made a range of observations:

Confiscating drug traffickers' assets has become harder under a new law
that curbs prosecutors' authority to seize homes, money, cars, boats and
other property before trials begin.

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are cooperating in
anti-drug efforts in Southern California, though all clamor for increased
funding.

Quick to adapt, drug traffickers are now smuggling narcotics in smaller
loads. "When big loads were easy to get through, they brought big loads,"
said Capt. Larry Moratto of the San Diego Police Department. "Now they
shotgun it through with numerous cars carrying smaller amounts."

Funding for enforcement programs is at risk as other social problems, such
as child abuse, compete for limited federal resources, Souter said.

"It's being implied in Congress that the enforcement, interdiction,
eradication side has failed," Souder said. "The (Steven Soderbergh) movie
'Traffic' is suggesting that maybe we ought to just give up on this stuff
- -- that if we reduced demand a little bit, then maybe everything would take
care of itself."

Staveley, director of California's Division of Law Enforcement, argued that
the government must continue to focus on enforcement programs. "I don't
know why we have to have an either-or question," Staveley said. "Demand
reduction is a useful thing to do . . . but why do we have to give up the
only effort that's been marginally successful?"

Other participants included the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Border
Patrol, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Imperial County
Sheriff's Department.

As a complement to the first panel, the congressmen heard from Roosevelt
"Rosey" Grier, the former professional football player, and his San
Diego-based group, Impact Urban America, which focuses on the spiritual and
physical needs of inner city communities.

At Grier's side was Ken Blanchard, co-author of "The One-Minute Manager,"
who has joined forces with Impact Urban America.

"What we figured out," Grier said, "is that if we join ourselves together,
not only with the government, but with the corporate community, the
churches, we can really effect change."