EYES ON THE BORDER

The goal: a cap on illegal aliens and drug smugglers.

The means: 32 pairs of electronic eyes.

A two-year bid to strengthen enforcement along the United States-Canada
boundary comes to fruition this week, as U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents
flip the switch on the last of 64 fibre-optic cameras set up to keep tabs
on 71 kilometres of border stretching from Blaine to the Columbia Valley
(just east of Sumas).

The $5-million (US) project is the first such camera system along the
northern border, and likely the first such fibre optic system in the
nation. The full contingent is expected on-line by Friday.

"It's going to be a big tool," USBP Deputy Chief John Bates said Monday.
"The agents are very excited about it. I consider it a success."

Two cameras are mounted on each of 32, strategically placed, 18-metre
poles. One is for daytime surveillance; the other an infrared model to
catch night-time activity.

Each can pan almost 360 degrees. Depending on terrain, they can zoom in up
to 4.8 kilometres (three miles)-close enough to snap a picture of
suspicious individuals or vehicles.

"Our main issues are two-illegal aliens utilizing Canada as a third
country...(and) the B.C. bud," Bates said.

"Historically, this area has had the most traffic of any sectors along the
northern border."

Before the cameras, the patrol relied mainly on sensors placed along the
border to alert them to illegal activity.

Unfortunately, while the sensors are activated by those trying to sneak
across undetected, they also trip for wildlife and conditions such as a
creek overflowing. A major issue was agents having to investigate without
knowing what they would encounter.

"(The sensors are) like a doorbell-you don't know who's at the door, you
just know somebody rang."

Now, law enforcement communications assistants who monitor the cameras can
provide agents with such details as who or what tripped the sensor, if
they're armed, what they look like, and which way they're headed.

They can even run two different camera angles on the same location; the
hope is to eventually be able to transmit live pictures of suspects to
on-site agents.

Bates said if the cameras prove their worth, he'll push to install them
right out to the Cascades.

So far, they've stopped marijuana smugglers, and north and southbound
aliens, as recently as last weekend. That's when a quick call from USBP
headquarters to RCMP led to the arrest of three border jumpers.

Another sign of success in efforts to seal the Blaine sector border comes
in hearing about problems cropping up elsewhere.

"We've seen some local marijuana smugglers arrested on the other side of
the mountain, so we know that we're pushing them," Bates said.

"That means somebody is deciding it's tough to enter here."

Bates said a key element in tackling the problem is co-operation with
Canadian officials. In addition to U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, and the
Drug Enforcement Agency, the patrol works with RCMP and Canada Customs and
Immigration on such efforts as Integrated Border Enforcement Teams.

"It's truly a partnership," he said.

"The more we work together, the better. This border is two-way and anybody
who doesn't think that way is missing the boat."

Bates said while terrorist attacks of last Sept. 11 sped up the camera
installation process, plans were in place prior to have them up and running
this year.

He's also looking forward to this summer, when 40 of 245 agents
transferring permanently to the northern border from its southern
counterpart are coming to the Blaine sector.

The numbers will top Bates' contingent up to 97 agents, and further aid the
patrol in curbing criminal activities.