Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2001
Source: Abilene Reporter-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Abilene Reporter-News
Contact:  http://www.reporternews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1106
Author: Associated Press

CUSTOMS REPORTS RECORD AMOUNT OF DRUG SEIZURES IN FISCAL 2001

LAREDO, Texas (AP) - Increased staffing, better equipment and improved 
government coordination helped U.S. Customs agents working along the border 
seize a record 159 tons of drugs during the 2001 fiscal year.

There were 1,602 seizures at 10 points of entry in Texas.

About 310,000 pounds of marijuana, 213 pounds of heroin, 6,682 pounds of 
cocaine and 133 pounds of methamphetamine were recovered.

Marijuana seizures increased by 34 percent compared to fiscal year 2000, 
while heroin seizures increased a dramatic 933 percent. Cocaine seizures 
were up slightly and methamphetamine seizures were slightly down.

Customs officials also seized $6.7 million in unreported currency.

"The figures stand for themselves. Surely this has to have an impact on the 
cartels," said Gurdit Dhillon, U.S. Customs Director of Field Operations 
for South Texas.

Nationally, the amount of illegal drugs stopped at the U.S. border rose 16 
percent, with Customs inspectors confiscating 1.79 million pounds of 
illegal drugs in fiscal year 2001, compared with 1.54 million pounds the 
previous year.

The 2001 fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2000 to Sept. 30, 2001.

The increase in drugs seized last year occurred even as the total number of 
travelers going through customs declined.

The service said roughly 473 million travelers passed through customs at 
airports, seaports and border crossings in fiscal 2001, compared with about 
488 million in 2000.
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