Following The Discovery Of The Largest Marijuana Ring In Upstate NY: Schumer Unveils Legislation To Increase Penalties On People Who Smuggle Drugs Through Indian Reservations

Press Release

CNY Drug Ring Sold Between $300 Million and $700 Million Worth of Marijuana In Ten Years, the Largest Drug Ring Ever Detected in Upstate NY

Akwesasne Reservation is The Only Indian Reservation That Straddles The U.S.-Canada Border Making it a Prime Location For Trafficking For People All Over The State

Schumer Introduces Legislation to Increase Penalties on Individuals Who Use Indian Reservations to Smuggle Drugs

In the wake of the biggest marijuana ring the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has ever busted in Upstate New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he will be introducing legislation to increase the penalties on people who take advantage of Indian reservations to smuggle drugs. Since February, the DEA has arrested more than 26 New Yorkers on charges of running a marijuana-trafficking ring that sold between $300 million and $700 million worth of drugs over the past 10 years. Schumer's legislation, the "Cross Border Reservation Drug Trafficking Sentencing Enhancement Act of 2009" would amend the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase penalties for individuals who use Indian reservations within the United States border to facilitate cross-border drug trafficking. Today Schumer said his legislation will both reduce the flow of drugs into New York state, as well as make the border reservations safer for those living there. The use of Indian reservations to smuggle drugs hurts both the tribes and the communities to which the drugs are sent.

"We need to send an unequivocal message to drug smugglers that using Indian Reservations to traffic drugs will not be tolerated and that violators will be suitably penalized," said Schumer. "The geographic location of the Akwesasne and St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservations along the U.S. -- Canadian border makes them susceptible to drug trafficking and we must do everything we can do discourage individuals from exploiting that option. My legislation will make drug smugglers think twice before using Indian Reservations to traffic drugs by increasing monetary fines and prison sentences for offenders."

In January of 2009, federal agents uncovered the largest marijuana ring in Upstate New York when they raided homes and businesses on the Akwesasne Indian Reservation. Since 1999, smugglers have sold more than 100,000 pounds of marijuana worth between $300 million and $700 million.

The marijuana was grown in Canada and transported into the U.S. through the Akwesasne Reservation. Schumer noted that the reservation is a prime target for drug trafficking because it's the only Indian reservation that straddles the U.S.-Canada border giving drug smugglers from Canada easier access to the U.S., and vice-versa.

The northern border of the United States is hard to monitor due to its length and geography and is often exploited by a diverse array of traffickers. In response, the U.S. Border Control has enhanced efforts to curb traffic in illegal drugs to and from Canada by tripling the number of agents along the 8,851 kilometer border in recent years. However, more must be done in order to enhance these efforts.

To help reduce drug trafficking through Indian Reservations, Schumer introduced legislation to enact harsher penalties on people who smuggle drugs through Indian Reservations. Under Schumer's legislation, any person found guilty of using an Indian Reservation to smuggle drugs will be fined and/or imprisoned up to an additional 10 years beyond the sentence for the underlying drug offense. Schumer said that the harsher penalties will give drug smugglers yet another reason to reconsider taking part in any sort of drug trafficking ring.

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