House passes Heller anti-smuggling bill

The House this afternoon passed a bill that would increase penalties on smugglers who transport illegal drugs into the United States via ultralight aircraft.

Ultralights are "the newest method the drug cartels use to smuggle drugs," said Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who sponsored the bill with Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev. The vote was 412-3.

The small planes can deliver payloads up to 220 pounds and can land in remote areas, often at altitudes that escape radar detection. According to press reports in Mexico, the aircraft are relatively inexpensive in comparison to the value of the smuggled product and can be abandoned once they complete delivery.

Heller said the use of ultralights has become more common, but a loophole in current law allows convicted smugglers to obtain lesser penalties than those who ferry drugs into the country by airplane or automobiles.

The light aircraft don't have the range to fly from Mexico into Nevada, Heller said during a short debate. Still, he said, "all methods of smuggling from across the southern border affects the supply of drugs into our nation."

The bill amends a 1930 tariff act to include ultralight aircraft in its aviation smuggling provisions.

The maximum penalty currently for smuggling narcotics by aircraft under the law includes 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, But the penalties for using light aircraft can vary by the prosecutor, the district and the charges that are filed, according to Heller.