America's Borders Are Porous When it Comes to Drug Smuggling
From Washington state to Maine and from California to Texas, traffickers employ a variety of methods to bring their wares into the country.


CANADIAN, OK, November 12, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Despite their $46.4 billion annual budget, the Department of Homeland Security is unable to close America's borders to drug traffickers and dealers intent upon making a profit from the misery of Americans.

From Washington state to Maine and from California to Texas, traffickers employ a variety of methods to bring their wares into the country. Passenger cars or tractor-trailers with hidden compartments passing through Ports of Entry, individuals walking across unfenced borders with backpacks, SUVs taking back roads across desert country, drugs disguised as shoes, candy bars, tomato or cucumber shipments - the list is limited only by the traffickers' imaginations.

In 2007, federal seizures along northern and southern borders totaled 33 tons of cocaine, more than 1500 pounds of heroin, three tons of methamphetamine and more than two and a half million pounds of marijuana. Texas, with its long border with Mexico, routinely has the highest numbers for many drugs. In 2007, federal agents seized 14 tons of cocaine, 240 pounds of heroin, more than 700 pounds of meth and a million pounds of marijuana.

"Stash houses" are established along the southern border, where drugs are broken down into smaller packages for further distribution. Stash houses are commonly found around Laredo, Roma, Rio Grande City and Brownsville. In August, agents found more than $4 million worth of marijuana at a packaging operation in Escobares, Texas.

This porous border takes its toll on Texans in terms of increased drug use. A 2006 study found that among Texas secondary students, twice as many students along the border had used cocaine as those in Texas who did not live along the border.

"Protecting our population means that we must take the initiative to fight drug use in our homes and our schools," stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon is one of the country's leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. "With the huge market for illicit drugs in this country, the only protections are sufficient education of our young people to prevent them from starting to use drugs, and effective treatment for anyone who has become trapped in their addiction."

Mr. Hallmark offered the services of Narconon Arrowhead to anyone who is looking for a solution to substance abuse or addiction. "Narconon is dedicated to eliminating the demand for drugs through effective rehabilitation and educational programs that we run in our neighboring states. We also help families trying to understand the problem of addiction with free counseling and referrals to rehab centers in any corner of the country. The only way we can beat such an extensive problem is by all of us working together."

To find immediate help for someone who is having a problem with drugs or alcohol, contact Narconon's free addiction consultation and referral helpline at 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at www.stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.



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Emily Fudge
Narconon of Oklahoma, Inc.
Director of Digital Prop Prod
HC 67 Box 5
Canadian, OK
USA 74425
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