[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DRUG INTERDICTION

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                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to add another line of defense in 
our Nation's war against drugs by introducing legislation today to 
strengthen drug interdiction efforts by the U.S. Customs Service. As my 
colleagues know, drug use, particularly among teenagers, is widespread 
and skyrocketing. A critical prong in Congress' attack on illicit drug 
use is stopping the flow of drugs across our nation's borders before 
they fall into the hands of our children.
  As the Federal agency responsible for protecting the nation's 
borders, the U.S. Customs Service is our front line in fighting the war 
on drugs. Customs seized nearly 1 million pounds of illegal drugs last 
year, more than all other Federal agencies combined. In 1997 alone, 
over 118 million automobiles, 9.3 million trucks, 321,000 railcars and 
4.5 million sea containers entered the United States creating an 
enormous window of opportunity for drug smugglers and a massive drug 
enforcement dilemma for Customs.
  To provide Customs with the necessary resources to police our 
borders, my legislation authorizes a significant increase in the number 
of inspectors and narcotics detection equipment along the U.S. borders 
with Mexico and Canada, as well as providing additional personnel and 
equipment at Florida and Gulf Coast Seaports and major metropolitan 
drug distribution centers such as Chicago, New York, Miami and Los 
Angeles. The war on drugs is winnable, but it can't be fought with 
words alone. My anti-drug smuggling bill supplies Customs with the 
necessary arsenal to defeat the ugly scourge that is casting a dark 
shadow over our nation.

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