LESS COCAINE, HEROIN INTERCEPTED IN 1997

Seizures of cocaine and heroin coming into the U.S. fell last year, despite
a substantial buildup in resources to combat smuggling.

Customs officials and other federal agencies now are scrambling to find
ways to intercept more drugs and out maneuver sophisticated smugglers who
have managed to detect and dodge previously established inspection
routines.

The amount of cocaine intercepted en route to the U.S. fell 12 percent in
1997. The amount of heroin seized declined by 16 percent, while the amount
of marijuana seized remained unchanged.

Along the Southwestern border, where increased resources to combat
smuggling have been concentrated, overall drug seizures rose by 8 percent
last year. Though the total amount of cocaine seized along the border
remained unchanged, officials were troubled by a sharp decline in the
amount of cocaine recovered from commercial cargo inspections, which fell
by 84 percent. Heroin seizures from the border fell by 57 percent.