Hunter Drug Plan Stresses the Military

A sweeping plan to reduce the smuggling of cocaine and other drugs into the United States from Mexico and elsewhere was proposed Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Duncan L. Hunter, R-Coronado.

“The cartels of South America control this border for purposes of moving cocaine across it,” Hunter said at a morning news conference called just north of the border in Otay Mesa.

The congressman’s plan, which he said he intends to present to the White House later this week, is largely based on increased use of military and National Guard units to cut down on the success of drug smugglers. Many of the proposals--such as increased use of sophisticated military aircraft and National Guard personnel--have been presented before.

Among the suggestions, the lawmaker proposes rotating National Guard troops into the Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Customs Service. He provided no details on how the guardsmen would be trained in the specialized duties of the various civilian law enforcement agencies.

“I don’t think Congressman Hunter or anyone thinks you can take a completely untrained individual and put him into a (Border Patrol) uniform,” said Ted Swofford, a spokesman for the Border Patrol in San Diego.

In addition, Hunter would have guardsmen repairing border fences and barriers, building border roads to improve law enforcement mobility, and providing transportation and clerical assistance to civilian agencies.

Hunter, who represents the U.S.-Mexican border area in San Diego, provided no overall cost estimates for his plans. He said he assumes it could be done relatively inexpensively because of the proposed use of military units already on duty.

Hunter’s blueprint would have to be approved in Washington, and Hunter acknowledged that it is likely to run into considerable resistance.

Until just recently, the Pentagon has expressed reluctance to commit its resources to combat drug smuggling, fearing that a siphoning of resources would compromise military readiness.

Moreover, the Mexican government and rights groups have long been sensitive to any effort to militarize the border.