DRUG SMUGGLING EPIDEMIC IS NEWS TO TRUCKERS

Re: Truckloads of pot, Special Report, Sept. 18

As the representative of 700 local, provincial, national and
international fleets that operate more than 13,000 commercial
vehicles, this story came as a bit of a surprise to me because a major
part of my job is to deal with issues that affect our industry
operationally (taxation, safety, international trade and security,
infrastructure).

The B.C. Trucking Association is a member-directed association and
this drug smuggling "problem" has never been raised in any of hundreds
of board, standing committee and task force meetings. Nor have I
received any telephone calls, e-mails, faxes or letters from members
expressing concern about organized crime infiltrating the industry.

Drug smuggling has never been on our radar screen as an impairment to
border crossings. U.S. border officials inform me that they process an
average of 34,000 southbound trucks a month at the Pacific Highway
crossing, which is Western Canada's highest volume commercial
crossing. There have been 70 significant seizures of marijuana over
the past three years at this crossing. This amounts to approximately
one seizure for every 17,486 trucks crossing at this port of entry.

Drug smuggling widespread? Hardly. The trucking industry infiltrated
by organized crime? I don't think so.

Crass sensationalism? Absolutely.

Paul Landry,

President & CEO,

B.C. Trucking Association