Smugglers have snuck across porous WA-B.C. border for centuries. What’s new?

Smuggling across the Washington-British Columbia border has a centuries-long history centered in Whatcom County, where geography and a porous frontier have enabled illegal trade since the 1800s. From Chinese laborers and Prohibition-era liquor to modern drug trafficking and asylum seekers, the region has consistently attracted smugglers. Apprehensions at the Blaine border crossing rose 390% between 2019 and 2024, while the northern border remains understaffed compared to its southern counterpart—78% versus 90% coverage as of 2024.