Pubdate: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2003 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Author: Darren Meritz Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) HEROIN, METH SEIZURES SKYROCKET Seizures of heroin and methamphetamine have sharply increased in the El Paso area during the past year, data the U.S. Customs and Border Protection released Friday indicates. In fiscal 2003, which ended in September, officials seized 218 pounds of heroin, compared with 15 pounds in fiscal 2002. Methamphetamine seizures increased to 706 pounds in 2003 from 92 pounds the previous year. The data combine the seizures of Customs and Border Protection with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or their equivalents in years before those agencies were formed. Seizures of cocaine, marijuana and currency seizures also increased over seizures last year. The annual reports came on the heels of two large busts. Customs and Border Protection officials seized more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana near Lordsburg, N.M., and about 34 pounds of cocaine near Alamogordo this week. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maier described the discovery of more heroin and methamphetamine as the result of two major developments -- increased enforcement along the Southwest U.S. border and changes in smuggling trends. In the past, "the vast majority of methamphetamine seizures were being made in Southern California," Maier said. "Over time, that has shifted eastward." That shift and greater increase in methamphetamine seizures in the El Paso area may be a result of growing demand in the United States for the drug, which dealers and smugglers are recognizing as a means of capitalization, he said. "If there's a way to make money on a commodity, be it an illegal commodity, someone is going to try to do it," Maier said. Meanwhile, sophisticated organizations may be trying to move heroin through the El Paso area in greater quantity, Maier said. He cited two instances in September when officials arrested smugglers trying to move large amounts of heroin across the international bridges. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin