Morning Security Brief: Major Cartel Bust, Border Security, British Cybersecurity, and More

►Authorities in Indianapolis are patting themselves on the back after making the largest bust in Indiana history and halting a major distribution operation that they say was most likely the work of a Mexican cartel, the Indianapolis Star reported. Authorities seized 5.25 tons of pot and $4.3 million after an investigation straight from the movies complete with secret compartments, overnight stakeouts, and wrapped bales of marijuana. “Even being conservative, the cartel is not only out $4.3 million in proceeds that was on its way, but they’ve now lost the possibility of maybe $50 million in proceeds from the distribution of drugs,” U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett said.

►A bill designed to increase border security would exempt Border Patrol from 36 environmental laws along the Canadian and Mexican borders. The National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act would allow border officials “to build roads and offices, erect fences, set up sensors and surveillance gear and operate aircraft and vehicles to patrol in national parks, forests and protected federal land along a 100-mile border zone,” the Orange Country Register reports. If the legislation is approved, Border Patrol would be allowed to ignore the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and many others. GOP supporters of the bill say environmental laws make it too difficult for border agents to deal with drug smugglers. Environmental groups are concerned and the Obama Administration has called the bill unnecessary. “We also believe that these two objectives - securing our borders and conserving our federal lands - are not mutually exclusive. We are not faced with a choice between the two. Instead, we can - and should - do both,” Kim Thorsen, a deputy assistant secretary with the Department of Interior testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing.

►The British head of cybersecurity says cyberattacks represent the biggest threat to national security because of their potential to hurt the economy. Maj. Gen. Jonathan Shaw, the head of the Ministry of Defence’s cybersecurity program, said that Britain will lose its position as one of the world’s leading hi-tech manufacturers unless companies improve cybersecurity, the Telegraph reports. Shaw says British companies routinely have information stolen by hackers or overseas rivals and that Britain should create training schools to educate businesses to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

►In other news, U.S. military academies are adding cybersecurity classes to their curriculum – in some cases making the classes mandatory. ♦ A feature by the Ledger-Enquirer examines the trip cocaine makes from Colombia to Columbus, Ohio.♦ And the U.S. is working to build a network of informants to combat Mexico’s cartels.