DARTS AND LAURELS

Dart to the latest evidence that North Carolina is part of the pipeline in
international drug trafficking. The 20 kilograms of opium seized this week
in Hickory was the biggest opium bust in the state's history. What may have
been more eye-opening than the size of the bust, however, was the ingenious
way in which the smugglers worked. Liquid opium that originated in Thailand
was soaked into burlap and then sewn into the seams of Asian clothing,
which was then shipped to Hickory. Once here, the opium-drenched cloth was
boiled to remove the final product. While our trade representatives are
always looking for new ways to boost the textile industry, this isn't the
kind of niche market we need.