Drug smugglers make research hazardous

An unexpected side effect of the war on drugs: smugglers on the Mexican border are making it increasingly difficult for certain researchers to complete their work. Unless, of course, they're willing to risk being robbed at gunpoint.

"I use night-vision goggles, and you could see them very clearly," Krebbs said of the caravans of men with guns and huge backpacks full of drugs, trudging through the desert. After taking refuge in bushes or behind rocks on 10 or so occasions, Krebbs abandoned her research. "I'm just not willing to risk my neck anymore," she said.

Along the U.S.-Mexican border, scientists like Krebbs say their work is under growing threat from drug traffickers and other criminals who have been pushed into remote areas by tighter U.S. border security.

Richard Felger, a botanist, said he stays away from remote mountains in the Mexican border state of Sonora after being robbed and threatened on research trips.

"I got kind of allergic to pistols being held to my forehead," Felger said.

Of course, it's hard to imagine most government officials feeling concerned that collection of data about a "mysterious species of Mexican trout in Chihuahua state" has been interrupted by this whole nasty "war on drugs" thing. Nevertheless, it's worth noting: there's always something new and rotten to learn about the drug war.