Despite stricter border controls put in place after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, large-scale contraband and migrant smuggling has resumed, partly through Indian reserves, according to an RCMP intelligence study.
Although cross-border smuggling declined immediately after 9/11, as Canadian and American authorities stepped up patrols along the frontier, smugglers have since figured out how to circumvent the measures.
Rather than trying to move large shipments of contraband, organized crime groups are now using more couriers to move smaller amounts and making use of less visible crossing points as well as airports and harbours, it says.
"Geography continues to play a critical role in Canada's contraband operations. Smugglers take advantage of trails, back roads and other land and water access points to transport cargoes across the international border."
The intelligence report -- which is marked "Protected" but was released to the National Post under the Access to Information Act -- also claims cigarette smuggling is financing terrorist activity both in Europe and the Middle East.
Organized crime syndicates are heavily into smuggling because of the huge profits, and "criminal extremist" groups such as Hezbollah are involved, it says. "In some cases, lenient penalties offer little deterrence."
The report identifies the Akwesasne and Kahnawake reserves as hot spots.
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There is a list of the the most popular items smuggled: stolen cars, illicit gold jewellery, smuggled water pipe tobacco, U.S. computer components and precious stones, and illegal handguns, while Canadian-made fur coats are being smuggled to Russia.
Drugs and migrants are now the "commodities of choice" for aboriginal smugglers, replacing tobacco and alcohol, it says.
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Curbing smuggling through reserves has proved challenging.
"Bands generally develop and enforce their own policies for the welfare of their community. In some situations, this has been exploited for financial gain," the report says.
"Tobacco plays an important role in many native communities. Once seen as the symbol of peace and healing, tobacco is quickly becoming a financial symbol and has been transformed from a benign substance into a means to rapid financial gain."
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The RCMP says one of its concerns is the import of explosives or materials used to manufacture bombs.
The Montreal-based Islamic terrorist Ahmed Ressam tried to cross the border into Washington in 1999 with a load of explosives in his car trunk, but he was caught. He intended to blow up Los Angeles International Airport.
Do read SMUGGLING BY PROVINCE to see the specialty of your reserves. Akwesasne in the Cornwall area tops the list.
Ontario - The Akwesasne reserve "remains a primary portal for illegal goods moving in and out of Canada, including narcotics, firearms, illegal migrants, alcohol and tobacco."
