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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Mexican Gangs Move Into US Indian Land

Drug cartels take advantage of overworked cops

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(Newser) – Mexican drug gangs have been rapidly expanding their marijuana-growing operations in the US in recent years, especially on Indian reservations. The gangs take advantage of underfunded tribal police departments, large tracts of unused land, and overlapping jurisdictions to set up grows on reservations from California to South Dakota, authorities say. The Mexicans easily blend in with transient populations on the reservations, according to cops.

The traffickers also use the reservations for gun trafficking and smuggling of narcotics brought in from Mexico and Canada. Overstretched tribal police say they expect the gangs to continue appearing during every growing season. "If we ever catch them, we'll run them off the reservation," the police chief at one Oregon reservation tells the Wall Street Journal.

Marijuana seized on Indian land made up around half of all the pot seized in Washington state last year.
Marijuana seized on Indian land made up around half of all the pot seized in Washington state last year.   (AP Photo/U.S. Fish and Wildlife)
Many grow operations are so remote that authorities can only access them by helicopter.
Many grow operations are so remote that authorities can only access them by helicopter.   (AP Photo/Los Angeles Sheriff's Department)
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These criminal organizations are growing in Indian country at an alarming rate. - Police chief Carmen Smith of Oregon's Warm Spring Indian Reservation

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11 comments
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riffran
Nov 5, 09 2:34 AM CST
Now THAT would be a good subject to fund...Hire more Law enforcement, and put them under DIRECT control of the Tribal police, to insure any customs that may come up are strictly followed.....then go on the warpath Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Nov 5, 09 2:41 AM CST
Why? With legalization creeping in, soon there will be no market for gang growers. You'll either grow your own, get/buy it from a friend who loves pot, or you'll get it from a "marijuana shop".
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Nov 5, 09 6:53 AM CST
Because funding in the short term can protect indigents faster than legislation can. We have to have a two or three tier assault.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
jamerican
Nov 5, 09 7:51 AM CST
When is somebody in the America going to start kicking the wet back criminals out of our country. They bring crime, murder, disease, and bankrupt our health care, don't pay taxes, have babies on welfare, burden our transportation and education systems and overall hurt our counrty.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
patrickd79
Nov 6, 09 7:33 AM CST
@jamerican. You never add anything constructive to the conversation, and only seem to add comments that allow you to spew your hate-filled beliefs. I doubt that you ever come into meaningful contact with any immigrants and therefore your opinions are ill-informed. Sorry, I usually like to keep comments on the positive side.
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