Part 5/10:
While many might assume cartel activity is primarily from the southern border, the officer notes that the flow into Montana is still largely from the southwest border. Since 2017, law enforcement has recognized that the northern border is an increasingly vulnerable zone, especially with limited assets stationed there. To combat this, coordination efforts with the U.S. Border Patrol and Canadian authorities have been initiated.
Interestingly, while the border with Canada acts as a supplementary route, the primary flow remains from the southwest, through ports of entry, and across various land routes. The officer highlights concerns about potential terrorist threats, such as dirty bombs, entering via the northern border, underscoring vulnerabilities in national security.