War On Drugs: How The Rabbit Ruined Their Teeth

California border officers find thousands of pounds of meth in shipment of carrots

Trump has a task ahead of him. One that starts at the port of entry, and not necessarily achieved building walls. Especially if he makes good on his promise to go to war with the Cartels. Which needs focus on the way Mexico ships its exports, and the regulatory agencies overseeing that process. And why half the vegetables are drugs.

www.cbp.gov...

On Sunday, at approximately 11:48 a.m., CBP officers encountered a 44-year-old man driving a commercial tractor trailer hauling a shipment manifested as carrots. The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor, trailer, and shipment.

The subject was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. The narcotics and tractor trailer were seized by CBP officers.

This seizure is part of Operation Apollo. Operation Apollo is a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl, and other illicit synthetic narcotics.

The vast majority of this vile sh*t comes through agricultural ports of entry, like this.

They nabbed this one through a secondary inspection, not disclosed was what triggered the referral to secondary screening. It's done if things don't line up or randomly.

The point there in is, thousands of these agricultural shipments cross everyday, and no shipment is safe from the Cartel. Secondary inspection is 3-4 hours vs a few minutes. They'd never move the line if every truck was unpacked like this one was.

This was lucky, he had a tell, or the scent of carrots could not fool an undisclosed dog. But dogs can't get it all, neither can the randomized way in which they inspect shipments.

The Cartel shipments are like this. And it's right through the teeth of the CBP.

While this is great, it's like squashing a single roach at 1980's NYC tenement.

How do you secure these shipments from being 3000 pounds of Fentanyl also? Suppose that was in the avocado shipment ahead of him that wasn't flagged? Or the 6 that got through in the following hours when they were otherwise occupied.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a total subscriber to "Faces of Meth" ideology, as well as any cheap Chinese rooted drugs to make it more potent, but it's like this clip.



I feel like everyone focuses on the unsecured portions as the root cause, when the problem would exist regardless of how fortified the wall is.

It will make people feel better, because as far as they can see their interdiction method is working. No one crossing illegally, hence no drugs. A rock keeping tigers away.

What needs to be done at agricultural ports of entry to actually stop it?

Because, yeah, good for CBP, but if they inspected every truck like this the border would never move.

a reply to: Degradation33

For every shipment they seize ten get through untouched , the border guards will be high fiving each other and the cartels will be laughing all the way to the bank .

A death penalty is needed for those that are involved in distribution this drug

a reply to: Degradation33

"In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense."

www.cato.org...

Sometimes these publicized "busts" are red herrings. ☠️

originally posted by: Boomer1947
a reply to: Degradation33

"In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense."

www.cato.org...

OH_SO Perfect isn't it. 😃

Oops

I wonder if the trucker even knew that the drugs were in with the carrots? It is possible that the trucker was just hired to haul veggies to the USA. I don't think a driver would open crates of carrots to check if they contained drugs. A driver that knew he had drugs might act a little paranoid if he knew, if I were shipping drugs across the border, I would just hire a commercial hauler to pick up the cargo and haul it to some warehouse in the USA without him or her or they or whatever knowing there were drugs in the containers. Nobody would expect a regular trucker who hauls veggies regularly to be hauling drugs.

originally posted by: Degradation33

While this is great, it's like squashing a single roach at 1980's NYC tenement.

How do you secure these shipments from being 3000 pounds of Fentanyl also? Suppose that was in the avocado shipment ahead of him that wasn't flagged? Or the 6 that got through in the following hours when they were otherwise occupied.

First, you would have to want the problem solved. As in, make it a high priority.

Unfortunately, the US government has a lot of priorities. Supporting Ukraine and Israel, banning gas appliances, gutting Constitutional Amendments, spying on Americans, etc.

But suppose we made it a top priority. Suppose we consider the millions of American lives ended or destroyed, and ask ourselves, "What would Israel do?"

We might start a campaign to obliterate all drug cartels. Employ the full might of our military and intelligence agencies, collateral damage be damned.

With the right leadership and coordination, such a plan could succeed. Of course, there would be some legal and moral issues that make that solution less than ideal. But the biggest hurdle can be found in the answer to a simple question.

What do the drug cartels do with all that money? Much, if not nearly all, being in cash?

You can only stuff so much in a mattress. To be useful, you have to launder the money. At the end of any money laundering operation is a bank.

So, the US government has to weigh the pros and cons of two priorities. The lives of American citizens, or the profits of banks.

Tough call.

originally posted by: Boomer1947
a reply to: Degradation33

"In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense."

www.cato.org...

The TL;DR here is that it means illegal immigrants are more than twice as likely to be convicted of fentanyl trafficking than those that aren't illegal immigrants

86.3% isn't 10x13.7%.

Their updated post gives 2022.

In 2022, U.S. citizens were 89 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—12 times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.

Again, 89% isn't 12x11%.

So. If we go with your original source and their update.

2021 - 86.3%/10 = 8.63% of the convictions are illegal immigrants.
2022 - 89%/12 = 7.41% of the convictions are illegal immigrants.

Illegal immigrants are cited as accounting for between 10-12 million residents which makes them around 3.6% of the 334 million people residing in the US according to US census data. That was calculated using 12 million and it would only be 3% at 10 million.

Based on your sources illegal immigrants are at least twice as likely as other residents to be convicted for trafficking fentanyl.

originally posted by: Boomer1947
a reply to: Degradation33

"In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense."

www.cato.org...

And of those it was 96% cis white males.

You gotta love when marxists role out the 'stats' to support their crap. Biden and KJP lie behind their 'stats' daily.

Since nothing was done about the CIA involvement with the Cartels in the 90's, does anyone seriously think the situation has changed much?

Why do you think it's so hard for your brothers and sisters across the border (we are all part of the same human family, Acts 17:26*) looking for a better life to cross the border without paying the Cartels (and then usually afterwards being used as slaves for further payments to their handlers and those threatening them once they are in the US, or their families back home)? *: “[God] made out of one man every nation of men.” (Acts 17:26)

Could the US government* be in league with the Cartels to keep both these lucrative businesses profitable by making it harder to cross the border without Cartel assistance (either drugs or people, with guns going the other way)? Just like it was in the 70's, 80's and 90's? Has anything really changed? *: regardless which political party was or is in charge, or which figurehead (president) was or is voted into office, who aren't steering the ship anyway, nor are they the Captains of the ship. They're just on the bow, to make the ship look better, yet with no power to affect the ship's direction.

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas, is a United States Department of Defense school. They still are a big player in the South American market, as explained concerning for example the Zeta Cartel at 13:26 - 14:06 below:

Coming back to the ship metaphor, you can think of the School of the Americas as a school for navigators, or the ones behind the steering wheels of most ships (nations) in South America. Federal organizations such as the Department of Defense (incl. the Defense Intelligence Agency) and the CIA would be officer schools.

Former U.S. Ambassador John K. Galbraith describes the military establishment as “by far the most powerful of the autonomous processes of government.” He continues: “The power of the military embraces not only the significant sources of power but . . . all the instruments of its enforcement. . . . More than any other exercise of power in our time it is the subject of grave public unease.”

Galbraith illustrates his point by reference to the United States military institution, which has property resources that “far exceed any similar source of power; they embrace not only what is available to the armed services and the civilian military establishment but what flows out to the weapons industries.”

'Follow the money':

Austrian economist Schumpeter wrote: “The orientation toward war is mainly fostered by the domestic interests of ruling classes but also by the influence of all those who stand to gain individually from a war policy, whether economically or socially.” These ruling classes have been defined as “elites [that] are at all times involved in trying to manipulate other elements of the population, or the public mood itself, so as to perpetuate themselves in power.”​—Why War? by Professors Nelson and Olin.

Every nation has its ruling class, even though that group may be divided into different political factions. However, many observe that the power of the military elite in every nation should not be underestimated. As Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt wrote: “Public opinion is formed by interest groups (politicians, arms manufacturers, the military) that deceive the electorate by giving them false or one-sided information.” In a similar vein, historian H. E. Barnes wrote: “Since the wars of the French Revolution . . . copious and compelling propaganda [has] been continued and greatly increased to protect warfare against popular dissent, opposition, and factual analysis of issues.” The same can be said about a continuing increase in military expenditures and military aid (or "security" expenditures, including private contractors*). Why is it, that no matter what rhetoric comes out of the mouth of politicians, money continues to flow in the direction of those described by economist Schumpeter? (and the increase is quite significant in the last 3 decades, especially since the so-called "War on Terror" campaign was publicized)

*: eg. Academi, formerly known as Blackwater, is an American private military contractor founded on December 26, 1996, by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince. It was renamed Xe Services in 2009, and was again renamed to Academi in 2011, after it was acquired by a group of private investors. Just one example among many of those referred to by economist Schumpeter as “all those who stand to gain individually from a war policy, whether economically or socially.” (again, this extends beyond just "a war policy", let's call them pro-military/security) They are fond of re-branding once their names get mentioned in a negative light more and more, don't they? (never by CNN or Fox News though, i.e. State media, no different than for example Russia Today, which has also been re-branded to RT)

Mexico could do a whole lot more to stop the drug trade and secure the border. They get a lot of US money in aid, trade and theire citizens living in the US sending money to their families in Mexico.

The US sticks their nose in countries all across the globe and if they're not willing to comply with our demands they face financial peril; strange how Mexico never gets sanctioned over the cartels and drug trade to encourage their cooperation.

a reply to: Degradation33

My sarcastic thought on this is obviously they need more Border Patrol and Customs personnel. There are probably millions of people who desperately need employment crossing the border every day. Put them to work on government dime screening everything going across the border. Then send some to NYC and Chicago to build more migrant shelters also at taxpayer expense. These would be good jobs paying the prevailing wage which is more than a lot of American citizens make anyways. Let's stop paying lip service to an ideology and really bite into it. Roll out the welcome mats American taxpayers. Just kidding. Obviously.

originally posted by: Boomer1947
a reply to: Degradation33

"In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense."

www.cato.org...

So that obviously makes illegal immigrants 13.7% less guilty. 😃

The solution is simple.

American made drugs.

Cuts the cartels influx of revenue.

Boosts tax revenue to cut the deficit.

Gets Americans producing quality products and jobs again.

Ends the War on Drugs, which funnily enough, the people on drugs are winning.

a reply to: Degradation33

I dont know about that Degradation33.

The cartels are a lot richer than Trump for a start.

And there is no true war on drugs but that of a token gesture.

Literally trillions of off-the-books dollars to be had with the alphabet agencies buried up to their arse.

They executed John F. Kennedy for a hell of a lot less.

Trump sticks his fingers in that pie and/or attempts to upset the apple cart, and "they" are apt to take his head.

a reply to: TinfoilTophat

That'll work with some drugs.

But have you seen the likes of the mess Fentanyl makes?

You can't realistically consider making that stuff as easily purchased as a packet of fags.

Put it this way it makes your crack epidemic look like a teddybears picnic.

originally posted by: stonerwilliam
a reply to: Degradation33

For every shipment they seize ten get through untouched , the border guards will be high fiving each other and the cartels will be laughing all the way to the bank .

A death penalty is needed for those that are involved in distribution this drug