For decades, the federal government has poured resources into tightening control at the U.S. Mexico border. Putting an end to illegal drug smuggling continues to be a main talking point for border control advocates.
But drug smuggling over land from central and South America isn’t the only way narcotics like heroin get into the U.S. They’re also coming in to the states from dealers in countries that the U.S. doesn’t share land borders with, they’re coming in through the mail.
Mail coming in to the U.S. goes through one of nine giant warehouses, called International Mail Facilities. At these facilities, Customs and Border Patrol as well as the FDA check packages for illegal substances. But the complicated logistics of managing such large facilities means sometimes they slip through the cracks.
Now, a bill co-authored by Wisconsin US Senator Tammy Baldwin looks to tighten up that process. It’s set to hit the Senate floor early next week. WORT producer Nina Kravinsky spoke with Baldwin about the bill by phone.