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COPYRIGHT 2001 South Florida Sun-Sentinal
Byline: Scott Wyman
TALLAHASSEE _ When federal agents accused 22 people last month of helping smuggle more than 9,000 pounds of cocaine into the Port of Miami, it was the second time in five months a major drug-trafficking operation had been uncovered at a South Florida seaport.
Just last fall, two former Teamster leaders were charged with importing nearly 8,000 pounds of cocaine and 85,000 pounds of marijuana into Port Everglades. Law officers said the arrests demonstrated that corruption and conspiracy to bring illegal drugs into the country remain a problem at the port.
The two bustling ports have long been among the top smuggling points for drug dealers because they can slip in their shipments on the mega-cruise ships and supersize freighters that drop anchor daily. State legislators and Gov. Jeb Bush's drug czar are pushing for tough new regulations for Florida's 14 seaports to stem the flow of drugs.
The proposal requires extensive background checks for all dock workers, limited access to the docks, security badges for all employees, restrictions on how cargo is released and better training...
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