BUFFALO (WBEN) - The Buffalo Field Office of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported an astounding increase of narcotics seizures during fiscal year 2020 compared to last year.
Buffalo Field Office Director Rose Brophy commented on the 1,106.18% increase in marijuana seizures, saying it helped that more resources have been dedicated to commercial vehicle inspection due to the extremely low levels of passenger traffic across the border.
"We see the current value approximately of a pound of marijuana in the United States, and the East Coast specifically, is about $3,500 a pound," said Brophy. "When you look at the overproduction of marijuana in Canada and you have a definite need in the United States, and you've got the goods in Canada, therefore it's a perfect opportunity for these criminal elements to try to get this stuff across the border and get it into the United States."
One of the seizures was a northern border record that contained 9,472 pounds of marijuana. Officers at the ports of entry arrested a total of 319 people and seized $543,015 in unreported currency. Further, CBP Agriculture Specialists intercepted 1,294 pests, an 8% increase from last year.