Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2011 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www2.tbo.com/static/tools/contact-us/ Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 U.S. RAILROADS FINED WHEN CARTELS HIDE DRUGS ON TRAINS Union Pacific Refuses To Pay, Says It's Unable To Stop Smugglers EL PASO, Texas - A border security program to X-ray every train rolling into the country has prompted as much as $400 million in fines against U.S. railroads, which are held responsible for the pungent bales of marijuana, tight bundles of cocaine, and anything else criminals cram into the boxcars and tankers as they clickety-clack through Mexico. Union Pacific, the largest rail shipper on the U.S.-Mexico border and the largest recipient of fines, refuses to pay what now amounts to more than $388 million in fines, up from $37.5 million three years ago when the screening began. In federal litigation the railroad argues that it's being punished for something it cannot control: criminals stashing illegal drugs in rail cars in Mexico. 'Our actions should be applauded, not punished,' said Vice President Bob Grimaila. Union Pacific spends $3.6 million a year on its own police officers and has spent an additional $72.5 million supporting federal efforts on the U.S.-Mexico border, building observation towers, training federal law enforcement officers, adding fencing and lighting at border crossings and developing computer profiles to identify drug traffickers. The Justice Department also says Union Pacific, which owns 26 percent of Mexico's railroad Ferromex, is responsible for controlling the trains in Mexico. However, the railroad says it cannot be expected to 'send unarmed personnel into Mexico to battle Mexican drug cartels that maliciously murder and wage a war against the Mexican military.' The railroad's argument may be gaining traction: The federal government recently signed a partial settlement with the railroad, releasing 10 seized rail cars in exchange for $40,000, and agreed to return to negotiations with the railroad, according to court records. There was no admission of wrongdoing, and Union Pacific agreed to remove any hidden compartments in the railcars. In addition, the railroad's own commissioned police force is now working with Mexican law enforcement, tracking back illicit shipments to their source and targeting them. Mexican army officials say that in March, using Union Pacific information and U.S.-provided screening machines, they seized 1,350 tons of marijuana in two different tank cars on trains en route from Aguaruto, Sinaloa to El Paso, Texas. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.