TEAMWORK ONE WAY OF PREVENTING SMUGGLING

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP confiscated 83
kilograms of cocaine from an American couple at the Carson Port of
Entry on Dec. 16.

The estimated value of the seized narcotics was $3.5 million.

Back in October, U.S. border patrol agents in Curlew, Wash., close to
the Carson crossing, seized approximately 140.6 kg (310 pounds) of
the designer drug ecstasy on a trail near the border.

The ecstasy pills were found inside backpacks and duffle bags and
hidden in brush and at the time, U.S. border services said that there
wasn't a clear indication where the pills were headed but based on
the size of the stash, it was likely headed across the country.

That is two drug seizures of note in the past few months and while
both border services on both sides of the 49th parallel should be
commended, it begs the question: how easy is it to smuggle contraband
and narcotics across the border?

The border is said to be largely undefended and while there have been
the aforementioned drug busts, there is little keeping smugglers from
finding their way either north or south of the Canadian/American border.

There aren't numbers on smugglers that successfully move drugs
across, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that there are
such operations taking place. Border agents, such as the ones at
Carson, are trained to ask questions and act on suspicions but there
are only so many crossings along the border.

While constant patrols along the border would be one way to stop the
smuggling of drugs, it probably would cost too much and the amount of
personnel needed for such patrols would be astronomical - it is also
known as the world's longest shared border.

But maybe the answer lies with a stronger partnership between the
RCMP and CBSA. Cst. Michael McLaughlin, media relations officer for
the federal drug enforcement branch, said that there is obviously
contraband passing through the border but he said that both the
police and border services are trying to evolve in their
relationship. He said the two have some major successes to show from that.

While there were reports that the CBSA Joint Forces Operations would
be ceasing, the agency issued a release denying it on Dec. 29.

It said it valued relationships with the law enforcement community
and said that Joint Forces Operations have been quite successful.