Anti-Terrorist Steps Uncover More Marijuana U.S. border protection agencies seized more than 5.5 tons of marijuana coming into the country through Whatcom County from January through November of 2004. That's enough of the potent Canadian variety, known as B.C. Bud, to fill nearly three semi trailers and outweigh three Honda Accords. In an effort to catch terrorists, the federal government has spent millions of dollars more on protecting Whatcom County's border with Canada since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, adding about 200 border-related jobs, and high-tech detection and intelligence equipment. [continues 730 words]
A hockey bag thrown into a raspberry field may some day be frowned upon by drug smugglers for being too obvious. As U.S. border protection agencies improve their smuggling savvy, illegal importers have pursued more creative ways to sneak drugs past them. Marijuana stashed in various semi truck shipments has accounted for some of the largest busts by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Whatcom County land ports. Here's a look at some of the more inventive methods drug smugglers have used in the past few years and some of the biggest marijuana seizures of 2004: [continues 416 words]
Great Falls community leaders agreed Thursday that Montana needs a plan for dealing with meth because current methods just aren't working. Mayor Randy Gray invited judges, law enforcement leaders, medical professionals, treatment experts and legislators to discuss the problem and hopefully come up with a plan to take to the Legislature. "It seems to me, from a societal point of view, there's got to be a better way to deal with the problem," Gray said. "We arrest, incarcerate, turn them loose, then arrest, incarcerate and turn them loose again. It's our No. one social, economic and societal problem." [continues 602 words]
