THE NEED FOR WEED: Border smuggling rises despite restrictions

Despite travel restrictions between the US and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic, seizures of marijuana and ammunition at Michigan’s border with Canada have increased substantially over the past year or so

In fact, marijuana confiscated last year by US Customs and Border Protection personnel assigned to the Detroit Field Office was up nearly 2,800% from fiscal year 2019, the agency said.

More than 6,350 kg. of marijuana, 108.8 kg. of cocaine, more than 11 kg. of methamphetamine and nearly 1.3 kg. of fentanyl were seized at various ports of entry into Michigan, according to fiscal year 2021 enforcement statistics.

About 1,171 kg. of pot was found in July packed among pallets during an inspection of a tractor trailer at the Fort Street Cargo Facility southwest of downtown Detroit.

The Detroit Field Office is responsible for the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit Windsor Tunnel in Detroit, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Detroit Metropolitan Airport.