RCMP PROVIDE BORDER PATROLS ON THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE 49TH PARALLEL

Canada lacks a specialized agency like the U.S. Border Patrol to
provide surveillance on our side of the line.

Here, the RCMP fulfill the role of responding to border
incidents.

The RCMP participate in IBET (Integrated Border Enforcement Teams) and
also work closely with the U.S. Border Patrol, Port of Entry
authorities, and ICES (Integrated Customs Enforcement System) to
monitor and apprehend illegal border proceedings.

"Smuggling continues to be a two way affair," said Kevin Schur, NCO in
Charge of the Osoyoos IBIT unit. "Canadian marijuana and ecstacy goes
south in exchange for cocaine."

Schur said that drugs for money deals were on the decline, as
substance trading solved the risk of losing money.

"Guns are also a big item coming into this country," Schur added, "the
guns that are instrumental in Vancouver gang shootings are mostly
illegal guns."

Canadian resources are limited when compared to those on the U.S.
side. U.S. Border Patrol agents outnumber RCMP officers available by
about ten to one, so the RCMP must rely on other methods to get the
job done.

"We are well aware of the traditional smuggling routes in existence,"
Schur commented, "Chopaka has been a traditional route, well known as
the "Whiskey trail" and is still well used... if we catch wind of a
smuggling operation taking place, we can and will set up a
surveillance operation on the trail by hiding in the bushes if need
be."

The RCMP, like their counterparts across the line, have active files
on known smugglers who may reside anywhere in B.C. Similar to the U.S.
Border Patrol, they work closely with members of the public who live
along the border on the Canadian side. The U.S. Border Patrol passes
along information gleaned from their work on the American side which
can allow the RCMP to pinpoint their resources on trouble spots, if
need be.

"We have to work a different system," Schur concluded, "active
investigative files, Border Patrol information, the Crimestoppers
program - they all help us - there is definitely a difference in the
amount of resources we have available."