The U.S. Border Patrol wants armed contractors to transport its seized narcotics.
In a request for proposals, the agency said it needs private contractors to transport seized pharmaceuticals, narcotics and the sheer tons of marijuana its agents seize. Otherwise, a handful of agents would have to move the loads for processing, pulling agents from other duties to do so.
Contractors will work in teams of three for each transported load and are subject to background checks.
Last fiscal year, the agency and officers at ports of entry seized some 87 tons of marijuana and nearly as much meth.
