OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008

Date: July 29, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Drugs


DRUG TRAFFICKING VESSEL INTERDICTION ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 29, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6225, as amended, a bill authorized by my colleague Mr. Dan Lungren of California to address the growing problem of self-propelled semi-submersible or fully submersible vessels used for criminal purposes. Not the Hunley, in fact.

According to the United States Coast Guard, international drug traffickers are using these vessels to transport illegal drugs to the United States. They are typically large enough to carry 24 metric tons of contraband, can travel up to 3,500 miles, and are designed so that the crew members can readily sink them within scant minutes of being spotted, thereby making it virtually impossible for authorities to intercept illegal shipments and bring the smugglers to justice.

These vessels sail under no country's flag. They are not registered. They are usually camouflaged and constructed to avoid radar detection, with all but a few inches hidden below the water line.

The Coast Guard estimates that these vessels now account for 32 percent of all maritime cocaine flow to the U.S. from pan-American sources. And they could just as easily carry even more dangerous cargo, posing a serious national security threat.

In recognition of this threat, this bill makes it a felony to operate such a vehicle on the high seas or across our border without national registration and with intent to avoid detection, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The version of the bill we are considering reflects a number of improvements developed by Congressman Daniel E. Lungren, Senator Biden, and Senator Lautenberg in consultation with the Coast Guard and the Department of Justice. I would like to commend them all for their leadership on this important legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward