Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2009
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Sheldon Alberts, Canwest News Service

U.S. TARGETS BORDER IN DRUG CRACKDOWN

(CNS) - The Obama administration is strengthening efforts to 
intercept and to break up drug rings smuggling narcotics across the 
Canada-U.S. border under an agreement announced yesterday that will 
see a sharp increase in the number of immigration and customs agents 
conducting raids.

Under the deal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will have 
the power to authorize an unlimited number of agents to investigate 
cross-border drug crimes.

While aimed primarily at helping the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration address the overwhelming challenge of fighting Mexican 
drug cartels along the country's southwest border, administration 
officials made it clear they also will be watching the Canada-U.S. boundary.

"Stay tuned. You are going to see a lot more activity," said John 
Morton, the assistant secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"This is a national effort. We are going to be paying attention to 
the northern border, and also to our air and maritime ports as well."

The agreement reached yesterday is designed to end decades of turf 
wars between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. 
Immigration and Customs agents over who has the power to investigate 
drug trafficking at the country's borders and ports.

The new deal gives Homeland Security the sole discretion to designate 
as many immigration and customs agents as it needs to take on drug smuggling.
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