SLACK MAIL RULES RIPPED

OTTAWA -- Loopholes that allow guns and drugs to be mailed into Canada pose
a security risk and must be "plugged" to thwart criminals using the system,
the former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says. Reid
Morden yesterday told Sun Media law enforcement has been aware for years
that the mail was used by criminals, and that terrorists could be using it
to move illegal goods into Canada.

"People who are associated with the terrorist business move drugs because
it costs money to run operations," said Morden, who runs his own security
consultant firm, Reid Morden and Associates.

'SMALL WEAPON'

"Heaven forbid if somebody even wanted to get some kind of a small weapon
of one kind or another ... not necessarily for an operation that would take
place in Canada, but that somebody can take an airplane and go somewhere
and use it," he said.

Morden's comments come after Sun Media revealed Customs seizure reports
from its five international mail inspection depots show guns and drugs
being routinely mailed into Canada.

Security ministry spokesman Alex Swann said reports of how the mail system
is being abused by criminals are a concern.