SEIZED DRUG MONEY GOES TO STATE POLICE

RAY BROOK -- Cooperation among federal and state law-enforcement and
anti-drug agencies seems to be paying off.

On Wednesday, the State Police accepted a check worth $497,794 from the
newly formed Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The check is
the State Police's share of $730,000 in U.S. currency seized in a handful
of drug-smuggling investigations in which the New York authorities
participated over the last year.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a melding of what had
been separate Immigration and Customs enforcement agencies, is part of the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency has 160 investigators
spread out along New York's border with Canada.

A recent arrest on the Northway generated much of the money presented to
the department. State Police stopped a car driven by three Canadians and
found in it dozens of pounds of marijuana and $570,000 in cash.

The smuggling of potent, high-quality marijuana from Canada into the United
States is a booming business. Authorities are also making significant
seizures of the party drug Ecstasy as it makes its way across the border.

According to Special Agent in Charge Peter J. Smith, the distribution of
the Canadian-grown marijuana is so profitable, "a lot of freelancers are
trying this."

Smith and Troop B Commander Maj. Peter Person both stressed the importance
of inter-agency cooperation and credited Canadian authorities with
providing invaluable help.

The money presented to Person on Wednesday will go to State Police
headquarters in Albany and be redistributed throughout the department.

Citing the dangers of the drug trade and threats of terrorism, a press
release from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement urges the
public "to report any suspicious activity related to the border to the
nearest BICE office or call the 24-hour tipline: 1-800-BE ALERT."