The New York Times says Indian reservations across the country are increasingly becoming safe-havens for drug traffickers. For the past two days the newspaper has reported on the challenges police have reaching drug dealers when they take cover on reservations, and the failure of many tribal police to tackle the problem.
Among the reservations mentioned in the Times story is the Red Lake reservation in Northern Minnesota. The story quotes three former tribal investigators who claimed Red Lake authorities, including chairman Buck Jourdain, interfered with their investigation into drug dealing.
Former investigator Greg Martel says family and political ties motivated tribal leaders to tip off drug dealers to ongoing investigations.
Chairman Buck Jourdain says the accusations are politically motivated.