2008 Woodie Awards
News From Around the States
Brian O'Connor
Issue date: 3/9/05 Section: News
SLEEPY NORTHERN BORDER CITIES BECOME HOTSPOTS FOR CANADIAN DRUG TRADE
As Canadian legislation softened penalties against marijuana possession and trafficking, exports across America's northern border are increasing, sometimes leading to deadly consequences.
According to a New York Times report, a highly potent form of marijuana known as "B.C. Bud" is coming over by planes, trucks, and even kayakers. The business is a $7 Million industry, and is much more violent than expected for what is considered to be a historically less violent drug trade.
Last Thursday, four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot to death in Alberta, while searching through marijuana-growing operation. The shootings startled many Canadians, since the country has not lost that many officers in one incident since the 1800's.
At the forefront of the trade is Seattle, WA. The nearest northwestern city to British Columbia, Seattle is the destination for Canadian criminal organizations that also bring cocaine, immigrants, and firearms across the border. Already strained from watching for terrorist threats coming down from the north, the border patrol is finding it increasingly difficult to monitor for these additional threats coming from what many call the "invisible border" between Canada and the United States.
Homeland Security Officials Weigh Out Train Safety and Terrorism
On freight trains, trucks, and containers, there are warning signs indicating the substances contained within their cargo areas. These signs are used by civilians, firefighters, and police officers in the identification of substances that could be possibly harmful if leaked. Afraid over the prospect of having these labels used as a way for terrorists to commit attacks, federal officials are weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of removing the signs.
As the United States Government makes attempts to secure possibly sensitive documents once belonging to the public domain, the idea of removing signs from freight carriers marks an era of non-disclosure by the United States in attempts to secure the nation from future attacks. The signs in question are used by firefighters and police officers to identify harmful substances, allowing them to keep a safe distance away if necessary.
As Canadian legislation softened penalties against marijuana possession and trafficking, exports across America's northern border are increasing, sometimes leading to deadly consequences.
According to a New York Times report, a highly potent form of marijuana known as "B.C. Bud" is coming over by planes, trucks, and even kayakers. The business is a $7 Million industry, and is much more violent than expected for what is considered to be a historically less violent drug trade.
Last Thursday, four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot to death in Alberta, while searching through marijuana-growing operation. The shootings startled many Canadians, since the country has not lost that many officers in one incident since the 1800's.
At the forefront of the trade is Seattle, WA. The nearest northwestern city to British Columbia, Seattle is the destination for Canadian criminal organizations that also bring cocaine, immigrants, and firearms across the border. Already strained from watching for terrorist threats coming down from the north, the border patrol is finding it increasingly difficult to monitor for these additional threats coming from what many call the "invisible border" between Canada and the United States.
Homeland Security Officials Weigh Out Train Safety and Terrorism
On freight trains, trucks, and containers, there are warning signs indicating the substances contained within their cargo areas. These signs are used by civilians, firefighters, and police officers in the identification of substances that could be possibly harmful if leaked. Afraid over the prospect of having these labels used as a way for terrorists to commit attacks, federal officials are weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of removing the signs.
As the United States Government makes attempts to secure possibly sensitive documents once belonging to the public domain, the idea of removing signs from freight carriers marks an era of non-disclosure by the United States in attempts to secure the nation from future attacks. The signs in question are used by firefighters and police officers to identify harmful substances, allowing them to keep a safe distance away if necessary.