IBET STIFLING BORDER SMUGGLING

Local News - A team of law enforcement agents has taken a huge bite out of
border smuggling over the past year.

The Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) of Cornwall and Massena has
seized more than $7 million worth of illegal drugs and property since it
was first set up in February 2002, while cracking down on people smuggling
at the same time.

"The number of people smuggled into the United States in our area has
decreased tremendously in the past three years," said Dick Ashlaw, patrol
agent in charge of border control in Massena.

The team consists of representatives from more than a dozen area agencies,
including the RCMP, the Cornwall Community Police Service, the Akwesasne
Mohawk Police Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, New York State Police and
both Canadian and American customs agencies.

"The law enforcement agencies in this area gradually learned to work
together and realized that team work is the key to our success," said
Ashlaw. "We could not do our work without one another and our communities."

Patrols are done in conjunction with U.S. authorities to maximize impact on
both sides of the international border. When a smuggler is attempting to
cross the border from the Canadian side, U.S. authorities are alerted
immediately and are waiting for the vessel in United States waters.

If the smuggler returns into Canadian waters, local team members are ready
to apprehend the vessel. As a result, team members say, smugglers have
absolutely nowhere to go.

"The amount of seizures is an indication the team has been very, very
successful," said Staff Sgt. Luc Brunet of the Cornwall police. "We
participate with the team's marine unit, and we contribute our officers
when they have special enforcement requirements. The team has used our K-9
unit and we have participated in intelligence surveillance."

According to intelligence reports, human smuggling has diminished
considerably along the St. Lawrence Valley border, team members say.
Although drugs and contraband are commonly smuggled items, the illegal
movement of people across the border has been a concern for the team.

"The way I view it, the illegal movement of any commodity across the
international border provides a training ground for those that may want to
smuggle other items," said RCMP Supt. Mike McDonell, officer in charge of
Cornwall detachment.

The IBET is testing a new communication system which enables authorities
from both countries to communicate with each other via their current radio
systems. In addition, several technological tools such as sensors and
tracking devices are also being used to identify smuggling activities and
patterns.

"Integration is a learning experience," said Sgt. Gilles Tougas, who heads
up the Cornwall and Massena team, "and we are getting better at it everyday."