“I think it would just be easier if we just legalize it”

Mexican Marijuana Trade Gaining Ground In U.S.

The Department of Justice reports that the Mexican marijuana trade is gaining steam, with cartels trying new tactics.
“It’s almost impossible to get every single one,” said Victoria Contreras, of central El Paso.
While that may be true law enforcement officials are forced to change their tactics.
“One of the things that we’re striving to do is truly become an intelligence driven organization,” said Ana Hinojosa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations in El Paso.
Hinojosa said the scanning technology that officers use at points of entry is also helpful in making marijuana and other drug busts. She said drug smugglers use all kinds of tactics to get drugs in from cans of hominy, toys, and even putting drugs in their bodies to get them over the border.
An analysis of records shows that marijuana has been the most popular drug that CBP officer have confiscated at the border crossings in the El Paso areas. In 2008 the confiscated more than 168,000 pounds. In 2007 they confiscated more than 199,000 pounds of marijuana.
Border Patrol also confiscates more marijuana than compared to other drugs. In 2008, they seized more than 87,000 pounds of marijuana. In 2007 they confiscated more than 128,000 pounds of marijuana.
One tactic that authorities said cartels are using is to grow more drugs in the United States instead of growing in Mexico and having to cross it over. Drug Enforcement Agency officials said El Paso’s desert climate and lack of water, makes it an unlikely place for cartels to start planting in the Borderland. Officials noted that it’s not impossible, just unlikely.
“I think it would just be easier if we just legalize it,” said Contreras.
Last year, the Department of Justice noted that cartels operated in 195 cities, compared to 50 in 2006.

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