Pubdate: Wed, 04 Dec 2002
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Jeorge Zarazua, Express-News Border Bureau

POT SEIZURES HIGHEST IN THE LAREDO SECTOR

LAREDO - The Border Patrol is seizing more marijuana along the 171-mile 
Laredo Sector than anywhere else on the U.S.-Mexico border, as drug 
smugglers shift their focus to Texas from Western states, officials said 
Tuesday. Officials speculated the change might be the result of beefed-up 
enforcement at other ports of entry.

"Perhaps the special operations have been successful in forcing these 
organizations to look at other areas where they can smuggle in their 
drugs," said Alfonso Moreno, the Border Patrol's Laredo agent in charge.

Since the 2003 fiscal year began Oct. 1, the Border Patrol has confiscated 
78,435 pounds of marijuana, a 53 percent increase over the 51,265 pounds 
seized in the same period last year.

The Laredo Sector stretches from the northwest corner of Webb County to the 
southeast corner of Zapata County.

Border Patrol statistics do not include seizures made by other federal 
agencies, such as the Customs Service, which reported Tuesday it 
confiscated 6,428 pounds of marijuana in a single seizure at Laredo's World 
Trade Bridge.
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MAP posted-by: Beth