Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2001
Source: Tucson Citizen (AZ)
Copyright: 2001 Tucson Citizen
Contact:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/461
Author: Blake Morlock

BORDER DRUG BUSTS SET RECORDS FOR YEAR

U.S. Customs Service agents are crediting improvements in training, tactics 
and technology for a record year of drug seizures along the Arizona-Mexico 
border.

 From October 2000 to September 2001, agents in Arizona seized 240,888 
pounds of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines - 34 percent more 
than last year.

Record drug busts were reported in three of the four sectors along the 
border, according to Roger Maier, U.S. Customs Service spokesman in El 
Paso, Texas.

Only the West Texas-New Mexico region saw a decrease - of just 25 pounds - 
in drug seizures during fiscal 2001.

Along the entire U.S.-Mexican border, 1.4 million pounds of illegal drugs 
were seized during the period, compared 1.1 million pounds last year.

Agents also arrested 1,198 suspected drug traffickers, secured 640 related 
indictments and confiscated $6.1 million in suspected drug money.

Concentrated crackdowns in border towns have helped drive drug traffickers 
out into the desert, Maier said.

"It's one thing to be a needle in a haystack of 20,000 cars" at a border 
crossing, Maier said. "If you are out in the desert, you can't blend in 
with everyone else."

Maier said the record number of arrests is not necessarily related to 
increased drug traffic along the border.

He also noted there was a drastic 10-day drop in drug traffic after the 
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

DRUG SEIZURES (In pounds):

                           Oct.'00-Sept.'01             Oct.'99-Sept.'00

Heroin                            116                           22
Cocaine                         4,794                        4,778
Marijuana                     235,506                      174,597
Methamphetamine                   172                          239
Currency                        $6.1M                        $4.5M
Arrests                         1,198                        1,040
Indictments                       640                          738

Source: U.S. Customs Service
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MAP posted-by: Jackl