Pubdate: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Monique Keiran Page: 10 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n697/a06.html ABILITY REDUCED TO STOP DRUG SMUGGLING In a recent Times Colonist editorial ("Drug war won't be won at sea," Dec. 11), the crews of coastal-defence vessels HMCS Brandon and HMCS Whitehorse were commended for their contributions to Operation Caribbe, Canada's contribution to a U.S.-led anti-drug-trafficking mission in the Caribbean and East Pacific. The Royal Canadian Navy ships assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in seizing about 10 tonnes of cocaine off Central and South America. The editorial also pointed out that the efforts are having discouragingly little effect on the drug trade. Waylaying drug-smuggling vessels in the 15-million-square-kilometre transit zone between South and North America represents a needles-in-a-haystack exercise. Targeting the trade at the source or the market end presents better - and more effective - odds. Yes, programs to reduce demand and to provide improved treatment and more education here at home are needed. However, we can also do more to help choke the shipment of drugs by sea to B.C. Last year, a Vancouver Sun investigation uncovered evidence that the longshoremen hired to unload ships at Port Metro Vancouver include more than two dozen members of organized crime and gangs, as well as people with serious criminal records. Government reports, police documents and union membership lists indicate at least 27 Hells Angels, associates and criminals, as well as members of motorcycle gangs, Asian triads and Russian gangs, work the port's docks. The same documents show governments, law-enforcement agencies, the port authority and port-worker unions have been aware of the problem for more than 20 years. The unions select and hire longshoremen, and also protect their jobs. Organized-crime groups access and control ports in Canada and elsewhere to facilitate the movement of drugs and other illegal products. Between 2010 and 2014, Canadian Border Services Agency officers seized more than half a tonne of cocaine, almost two tonnes of the party-drug ketamine, and more than 20,000 litres of precursor chemicals hidden inside shipping containers arriving at Port Metro Vancouver. Of the more than 1.5 million containers that arrive at the port's four terminals every year, Canadian Border Services examines about three per cent. It selects containers for scrutiny after analyzing data about crews, vessels, cargo, routings and so on. The agency links the smuggling to the Hells Angels and other gangsters working at the port as longshoremen, equipment operators, foremen and truck drivers. In 2002, when a non-partisan Senate committee reported on its investigation into crime at Canada's major ports, it reported that Vancouver's port authority officials said they had no knowledge of organized crime at the terminals. Last year, Port Metro indicated the authority knew of the criminal element, but couldn't or wouldn't say how many dockworkers have criminal links, nor whether their presence significantly affected port business. In fact, as of Jan. 1, the agency cut funding to the specialized police unit that investigates crime on the waterfront. The loss of $400,000 per year means the RCMP-led National Port Enforcement Team at the port is reduced to nine from 13 officers. The port authority says the decision was made because policing is not part of the agency's mandate - which is true. Ports are in business to move as many imported goods as fast as possible to onward destinations. In shipping, time is money and every security-or contraband-screening requirement slows the process. Shipping companies, intolerant of delays, redirect shipments to avoid ports that present hassles. This can quickly add up to billions of dollars in lost revenue for ports, their governing agencies and communities. To give Port Metro credit, it also stated it is redirecting the money to continue investment in security-screening technologies. To date, the port's new security technologies include access gates, patrol boats, 600 cameras, large-scale imaging machines and a high-tech, centralized operations centre. However, it's an odd message to send out to the world, especially in light of last year's publicity on the issue. Although the port continues to upgrade its screening technology, it is withdrawing funding for the very people whose experience, expertise and judgment contribute to deciding which containers to screen and what suspicious activity on the docks to follow up on. It appears we're improving the tools to find the needles in the haystacks at this end of the shipping chain; we just have fewer people to pick them up. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom