Speech #1010168990

We have seen it in our region in recent reports issued by our Federal agencies that I hold here right now proving again undeniably and irrefutably the link between the highlands of Peru and my community via Canada. We have had border seizures increase dramatically in recent months crossing between southern Ontario and western New York. There are four border crossings. bridges. between our region and southern Canada. At the Rainbow Bridge. in Niagara Falls. a 56percent increase in the past year in seizures at that border crossing. At the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo and Fort Erie. 18 percent increase in seizures of narcotics. At the LewistonQueenston Bridge. 13 percent. and at the Whirlpool Bridge. 13 percent. 381 narcotics seizures on those four border crossings in a period ofin an area of about 30 miles. 25 miles long. in the past year. That is amazing and again undeniably showing the link between those South American Jungles and our community. One last point: The people talk about our isolation and our being away from the mainstream of narcotlcs trafficking and away from that cocaine pipeline of death.