NOTE: “The War on Drugs” and “The War on Terror” are the standard propaganda used for lulling the population into acceptance.
http://www.security-technologynews.com/news/unmanned-spyplane-for-canadian-border-security.html
Posted by Security Technology News’ US Correspondent on 27/01/2011 – 13:00:00
The unmanned spyplane being used to monitor Canadian border sercuriy is now flying along a bigger section of the border, reports the Montreal Gazette.
The US National Air Security Operations Center’s Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been flying along the US-Canadian border in North Dakota since 2009.
But now it’s monitoring a much larger area, transmitting real-time TV pictures to security officials. The aircraft can remain airborne for up to 20 hours.
The Predator is being used to support security agencies’ ongoing efforts to fight smuggling across the border.
US-Canada Border Security
The issue of US-Canada border security has risen up the agenda in recent times after reports of criminals using low-flying aircraft and helicopters secret tunnels to smuggle drugs into the US. In 2009 a joint US-Canadian operation saw two helicopter shipments of marijuana being intercepted, leading to nine arrests.
In the wake of this there has been a move towards greater co-operation between federal, state and local agencies and with Canadian law enforcement agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Predator UAV’s use is part of that effort. It’s been used since 2009 primarily in North Dakota, but it’s area of operations has now been expanded to include an area from Spokane in Washington to Minnesota. The focus is on the more remote and rugged areas that are ideal for criminals looking to keep their smuggling activities away from prying eyes.
“We’re trying to work the border smarter, not harder,” John Priddy, director of National Air Security Operations Center, told the Montreal Gazette. “There’s new technology being deployed, which will make it more difficult to conduct illicit activities.”
Predators have also been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and along parts of the U.S.- Mexico border. As with the Mexican border the aim is to have UAVs flying along the entire length of the US-Canada border, though Supt. Warren Coons, director of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Border Enforcement Team, told the Montreal Gazette that Canadian agencies have no plans at present to start using UAVs from the Canadian side of the border.