Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2007
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Tracy Clark

HOTLINE TARGETS CROSS-BORDER SMUGGLING IN TRUCKING INDUSTRY

A new hotline launched by the RCMP's border integrity team is aiming 
to combat cross-border drug smuggling, while maintaining the 
integrity of the trucking industry.

The new 1-800 number, which will operate similar to Crime Stoppers -- 
the caller's anonymity will be protected at all times -- will allow 
anyone, including the truckers, to report suspicious activity or a 
known smuggling operation.

"We want the trucking industry to help us identify the people who are 
victimizing individual truckers by offering them money to do the 
dirty work for them," said Superintendent Bill Ard, officer in charge 
of border integrity, of the organized crime groups that orchestrate 
the operations.

The truckers are often convinced by organized crime groups to smuggle 
contraband -- most commonly marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and guns -- 
for large sums of money and promises that they will not get caught.

However, Massie said many of them never receive the cash and more and 
more truckers are getting caught, as border services agents' training 
and knowledge of these operations improve.

The customs agents can easily identify the hidden compartments that 
are created to bring the drugs across the Canada/U.S. border, said Massie.

"They are no longer a secret," he said.

A Surrey truck driver learned that lesson in July 2005, when a border 
patrol dog named Shad sniffed out a drugs in an electronic overhead 
compartment of a tractor-trailer that was heading south through the 
Osoyoos border crossing -- one of the busiest in the province. Inside 
the compartment was 192 vacuum-sealed bags containing more than 100 
kilograms of marijuana worth about $2 million.

The driver was arrested and charged with unlawfully exporting drugs 
and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

That bust accounted for almost a third of the total kilograms of 
drugs seized at B.C. border crossing in 2005.

In the Okanagan and Kootenay region alone that year there were 206 
drug seizures and 117 weapons seizures, up from 196 drug seizures and 
28 weapons seizures in 2004.

Truck drivers who are convicted of smuggling contraband across the 
border can receive sentences of 10 years or longer, said Massie, 
adding that it not only results in a criminal record, but a loss of 
wages for the driver and often has a detrimental impact on the driver's family.

The Canada Border Services Agency said that, as a member of the 
Integrated Border Enforcement Team, it welcomes the creation of the hotline.

"Our goals are the same," said CBSA spokesperson Paula Shore.

Shore said the CBSA works with the RCMP, U.S. border agents and 
American law enforcement to ensure the border is protected. That 
collaboration has continually improved since 9/11, she said.

Currently anyone who crosses the border must speak with a CBSA agent. 
But the agency has several methods of detecting goods before they get 
to the province's crossings, including advanced passenger 
information, advance commercial information, the container security 
initiative, migration integrity officers, risk assessment systems and 
networks and pre-screening programs, such as NEXUS and FAST.

Once they arrive at the border, there are several high-tech systems 
that can be used to monitor and detect goods crossing the line, 
including radiation, gamma-rays, X-ray systems and increased officer training.

New systems and strategies are always being developed, she explained, 
pointing to the electronic-manifest initiative for commercial 
carriers that was announced by Okanagan-Coquihalla MP and federal 
minister of public safety Stockwell Day last week.

The hotline will just be another information gathering and sharing 
tool, she said.

The RCMP are also hoping the hotline will protect the reputation of 
the $51 billion trucking industry, which employs more than 260,000 
drivers nation-wide and accounts for the transportation of 90 per 
cent of all consumer products inside the country and two-thirds 
between the neighbouring nations.

Anyone wishing to anonymously report any suspicious cross-border 
activity, whether or not it relates to the commercial trucking 
industry, can call 1-888-598-4602 .
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman