PLUG MAIL LOOPHOLES

Former CSIS boss says Canada must stamp out crime

OTTAWA -- Loopholes that allow guns and drugs to be mailed into Canada pose
a security risk and must be "plugged" to thwart criminals and terrorists
using the system, according to the former head of the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service.

Reid Morden yesterday told Sun Media law enforcement has been aware for
years that the mail was an avenue 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 now heads up his own
security consultant firm Reid Morden and Associates.

"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 perhaps so that somebody can take an airplane and go
somewhere else and use it," he said.

"That is more likely the problem."

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

Morden said the federal government should put international mail inspection
at the top of its security priority list.

"Clearly, people are prepared to use the mail for all sorts of other things
these days and I would think it would be moving toward the front burner. We
plugged a number of holes in getting people and things across the border,"
Morden said.

Security Minister Anne McLellan was not available for comment yesterday, but
spokesman Alex Swann said reports of how the mail system is being abused is
a concern.

"The minister and the agency continue to recognize that this is one area
where we need to be vigilant," Swann said.

Alliance MP Rahim Jaffer said increased security measures being implemented
at the border would warrant Canada Customs and Revenue Agency x-ray all
international mail, not just the ones determined suspicious.

Customs officers are prohibited by law from opening mail weighing less than
30 grams.

"It's a weaker link in the way that Customs deals with trying to keep high
risk out of the country because of the fact that even though they do check
parcels coming through ... there is an exemption of 30 grams, but that still
allows room for error," Jaffer said.