Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jul 2003
Source: Press-Republican (NY)
Copyright: 2003 Plattsburgh Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pressrepublican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/639
Author: Ned P. Rauch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

SEIZED DRUG MONEY GOES TO STATE POLICE

RAY BROOK -- Cooperation among federal and state law-enforcement and 
anti-drug agencies seems to be paying off.

On Wednesday, the State Police accepted a check worth $497,794 from the 
newly formed Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The check is 
the State Police's share of $730,000 in U.S. currency seized in a handful 
of drug-smuggling investigations in which the New York authorities 
participated over the last year.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a melding of what had 
been separate Immigration and Customs enforcement agencies, is part of the 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency has 160 investigators 
spread out along New York's border with Canada.

A recent arrest on the Northway generated much of the money presented to 
the department. State Police stopped a car driven by three Canadians and 
found in it dozens of pounds of marijuana and $570,000 in cash.

The smuggling of potent, high-quality marijuana from Canada into the United 
States is a booming business. Authorities are also making significant 
seizures of the party drug Ecstasy as it makes its way across the border.

According to Special Agent in Charge Peter J. Smith, the distribution of 
the Canadian-grown marijuana is so profitable, "a lot of freelancers are 
trying this."

Smith and Troop B Commander Maj. Peter Person both stressed the importance 
of inter-agency cooperation and credited Canadian authorities with 
providing invaluable help.

The money presented to Person on Wednesday will go to State Police 
headquarters in Albany and be redistributed throughout the department.

Citing the dangers of the drug trade and threats of terrorism, a press 
release from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement urges the 
public "to report any suspicious activity related to the border to the 
nearest BICE office or call the 24-hour tipline: 1-800-BE ALERT."