U.S. TARGETS BORDER IN DRUG CRACKDOWN

(CNS) - The Obama administration is strengthening efforts to
intercept and to break up drug rings smuggling narcotics across the
Canada-U.S. border under an agreement announced yesterday that will
see a sharp increase in the number of immigration and customs agents
conducting raids.

Under the deal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will have
the power to authorize an unlimited number of agents to investigate
cross-border drug crimes.

While aimed primarily at helping the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration address the overwhelming challenge of fighting Mexican
drug cartels along the country's southwest border, administration
officials made it clear they also will be watching the Canada-U.S. boundary.

"Stay tuned. You are going to see a lot more activity," said John
Morton, the assistant secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"This is a national effort. We are going to be paying attention to
the northern border, and also to our air and maritime ports as well."

The agreement reached yesterday is designed to end decades of turf
wars between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S.
Immigration and Customs agents over who has the power to investigate
drug trafficking at the country's borders and ports.

The new deal gives Homeland Security the sole discretion to designate
as many immigration and customs agents as it needs to take on drug smuggling.