Drug smuggling: A serious problem at the Canada/ US Border

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Drug trafficking has been a long running problem, that plagues many countries. The United States has been one of the countries that has taken a great toll when battling the ever-growing drug situation. The South Border is often watched and monitored by border and customs agents hoping to keep the border clean and free of drugs. But many fail to remember that the drug problem not only arises from the south but from the Northern Border as well.

The Canada-US border has had the recurring problem from drug smuggling, from prescription medications to things like cocaine, methamphetamine, smaller quantities of fentanyl, marijuana, and ecstasy are the most popular drugs flowing south from Canada into the U.S. Many fail to remember that the northern border has become vulnerable as security is not as tight as in the southern border. And with the passing years the problem has only increased.

Most of the times news of drug smuggling in the Canada-US border are not that heard of and may be one of the reason why it fails to take a spotlight in the eye of most people. Not being less of a problem for the national security of both countries but drug monitoring has a stronger focus in the southern border, leaving small cracks in which some take advantage.

And as time goes criminal have learned of new ways to avoid detection, as they continue to adapt and grow with their drug smuggling methods and routes. Many may think that the rough terrains that surround that border would disadvantage the smuggler but in some case in can become an aid. The mountainous part is often used to smuggle small flying aircrafts at a low altitude that they aren’t detectable by radar, giving the smuggler the perfect cover.

While the Southern border with a span of 2,000 miles, has attracted more attention for national security, the 5,500-mile Northern Border gives more opportunities to illegal crossings. As in one of the weak points of this border is that in various areas cities and small towns as well are often only separated by street, every day bridges, or a mere obelisk, it gives way to the more convenient smuggle than the heavily secured Southern border. The amount of apprehensions in the Northern border are those of a 10% compared to the almost 90% that occur in the south, and an amount of 700 pounds of marijuana and cocaine, compared to the 1.6 million that is detained at the south. And even border agents have admitted that they don’t know with certainty how much criminal activity happens as they do not count with the sufficient means to provide a certain detection.

Sadly, with the passing of years the protection of the Northern border from drug traffickers has been given a warranted mention to become an eminent problem. This area has become heaven for those smugglers and drug trafficking organizations. And as mentioned before by Jon Tester, the Democratic Senator of Montana “No one is arguing that the Northern border is the same as what’s happening down on the Southwestern border, but we can’t forget about this area. If we take our eyes off of that, they will go where the weakest link is.”


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