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HŔROMSZÉK [Államszövetség Hŕromszéki; Confederation of Hŕromszéki States; Svazek i Hŕromszékitc; Confederation d'Harômszék] |
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| Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues |
| Hŕromszék | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Hŕromszék was at various times as many as fifty-two nation-states. The confederation as it is now came into being in 1483, but the Hŕromszéki peoples have existed within the same boundaries since the 1100's. The present confederation is loose, with many aspects of sovereignty reserved to the constituent republics (kraj). The tribal confederations of centuries ago formed a group consciousness out of numerous squabbling factions, without erasing their distinguishing differences. The present Confederation aims to preserve those differences as unique group identities, while furthering cooperation as one Hŕromszék. So far, it's working. |
| Hŕromszék | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | West Niveria, on Cisteuvian Ocean, south of Vetlanda, north of Zîrkć |
| Geographic coordinates: | 35 00 N, 127 00 W (Cerbesti) |
| Map references: | Niveria |
| Area: | total: 2,489,068 sq km
land: 2,447,414 sq km water: 43,654 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | somewhat smaller than Reichstadt |
| Land boundaries: | total: 5866 km
border countries: Vetlanda 779 km, Sapmi 1321 km, Reichstadt 983 km, Hochteuvia 951 km, Zirkae 1832 km |
| Coastline: | 1736 km |
| Maritime claims: |
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (modified to 1/2 distance to opposing coast in straits) territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: | temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and warm summers; alpine in east; occasional Chabbooka (warm foehn wind) off NE mtns in fall & spring |
| Terrain: | coast: scarp or hills; central: hills to rolling high plains deeply cut by meandering river valleys; low hills on SW border; sharp mountains on NE, E, and SE borders |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Cisteuvian Ocean 0m highest point: Skaverrantk 4,311 m |
| Natural resources: | bauxite, coal, noble gases, tin, copper, zinc, silver, fertile soils, arable land, softwood forests |
| Land use: | arable land: 36%
permanent crops: 15.6% permanent pastures: 8.4% forests and woodland: 18% built-up / urban: 1% other: 21% (1522) |
| Irrigated land: | 72,060 sq km (1522 est.) |
| Environment - current issues: | Some mountain watercourses in the east have continuing heavy-metal toxicity problems from smelting and mining operations in the 1300's and 1400's. Watercourses and groundwater in present and former coal mining areas have too much acidity, though improvement has been seen since 1490. Industrial southwest has improving situation with acid rain from fossil fuel use - prevailing NW winds swept the problem over Zirkae, Hochteuvien, and Albanuadh for years - now that the offending industries are cleaning up effluents, there's a marked lessening of environmental tension with those neighboring nations. Salmon & trout are returning to upper reaches of Jurajrieka & Villemrieka now that dams have been provided with fish ladders. |
| Geography - note: | Cisteuvian maritime influence extends far inland, moderating Hŕromszék's environment. Horskáá (alps) to the East strip much of the moisture from the prevailing W-E air movement, leaving Hŕromszék exceptionally well watered, even the high central plains which would be steppes some other places in Scandia. |
| Hŕromszék | People | Top of Page |
| Population: | 142,566,000 (1525 est.) |
| Population density: | 57 per square km (1525 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.63%
(male 14,950,433; female 15,560,654) 15-64 years: 58.66% (male 39,717,734; female 43,027,546) 65 years and over: 19.71% (male 9,730,963; female 18,071,789) (1525 census) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.52% (1524 est.) (birth + immigration) |
| Birth rate: | 14.32 births/1,000 population (1525 census) |
| Death rate: | 12.51 deaths/1,000 population (1525 census) |
| Net migration rate: | 2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1525 census) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: .96
male(s)/female under 15 years: .97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.90 male(s)/female (1525 census) |
| Infant mortality rate: | 7.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1526 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population:
76.63 years male: 71.28 years female: 86.3 years (1526 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.4 children born/woman (1525 census) |
| Health access: | Population with access to clean water:
99% People per physician: 314 People with some form of health insurance: 89% (1515 census) |
| Nationality: | noun: Hŕromszéki(s)
adjective: Hŕromszéki |
| Ethnic groups: | Ŕlmosi tribes: Levente 16%, Magor 17%,
Montagny 19% (52% overall) (when other nations refer generically to "Hŕromszéki" they often mean Ŕlmosi, though the other three tribes are just as Hŕromszéki in culture) Niveski: Mongral tribe 19%, other Niveskian 2% Loirisien: Alpŕrd tribe 8% Yom ethnicity: Yom tribe 6% Tăroeçese 2%, Zîrkćn 2%, Noumakabesque 1%, Other Kwasinian 3%, Teuvian (Reichlandisch) 2%, SE Niverian (Kanjiri / Neeponese/ Ostense) 1%, Other (incl. Sámean, Vetlandan, Isanion, Ghallic) 2% |
| Religions: | Valanian (Catholic) Church 14%, Loirisean Luker Church - Hŕromszék Synod 14%, Evangelical Church of Cruis 13%, (Ostensian) Reformed Church 7%, Cruiskirk Baptizo 11%, Church of Cruis the Messiah 8%, Abanurian Orthodox 4%, Brethren 4%, Old Order Brethren 2%, Cumaric Cruisian 1%, other Cruisan denominations 8%, Iudeans 3%, Mounists 1%, Atheist 2%, Wötan 0.5%, other 7.5% |
| Languages: | declared primary speakers:
Turayiec 18%, Magyatic 16%, Nopalcany 16%, Ris 12%, Skyaav 11%,
Maansi 9%, Loirisian 8%, Úgretic 5%, Yommanisch 4%, other 1%
(1524 voter registration) all speakers w/ certified fluency or assumed family primacy (minors): Loirisian 36%, Ingallish 33%, Skyaav 31%, Nopalcany 30%, Turayiec 24%, Ris 23%, Magyatic 21%, Maansi 16%, Úgretic 11%, Yommanisch 7%, Vetlandan 6%, Sámean 6%, Teuvian 7%, Zîrkćn 4%, various Kwasinian tongues 3%, Ghallig tongues 1%, other 13% (1525 census) Note: those are the statistics for certified fluency. Informal, vernacular, or pidgin command of languages spreads even wider among the Hŕromszéki. One doesn't need to pass some kind of test to talk to the Samean greengrocer or Teuvian auto dealer, or for that matter to play poker with Kwasinian dockworkers. Indeed, some Hŕromszéki sailors have the dubious distinction of being able to curse in more languages than anyone else on Scandia. |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1525 census) |
| Hŕromszék | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: | conventional long
form: Confederation of Hŕromszéki States conventional short form: Hŕromszék local long form: Államszövetség Hŕromszéki; Svazek i Hŕromszékitc; Confederation d'Etats d'Harômszék local short form: Hŕromszék |
| Government type: | confederated multilayer republics |
| Capital: | Cerbesti |
| Administrative divisions: | republics: 40 (language - 9,
tribal - 6, territorial - 25); kraj (republics, nominally sovereign): 25; megyek (singular - megye)(county): 309 |
| Independence: | 1483 (present confederation) |
| National holiday: | St. Stephen's Day, 20 August |
| Charter: | 29 August 1483, effective 20 September 1484, revised 19 April 1488 with Bills of Acknowlegement; revised 18 October 1491; 1 May 1496 amendment streamlined the judicial system, removing the unworkable Central Court |
| Legal system: | rule of law based on mixture of tribal custom, Loirisian model, and Valanian codex |
| Suffrage: | 19 to 21 years of age depending upon home Republic(s); universal upon declaration of tribe and primary and any secondary languages |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Premier
Stefan NOVAK (since March 1518) head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DESNY (since 6 November 1519) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Confederal Assembly on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: Premier elected by representative vote of all republics for a five-year term; election last held March 1523 (next to be held March 1528); Prime Minister elected by the Confederal Assembly on the recommendation of the Premier note: to be elected, national officeholders must win 67% of popular vote (or parlimentary vote) in the first two rounds or a simple majority (51%) in the third round. These procedures are the same for all federal elective offices. Failing a third-round runoff clears the electoral slate and a new set of candidates for that office is presented, by whichever parties wish to enter the contest. If failure to seat an office persists beyond the termination date of a current official's term, the office goes vacant until an election succeeds. For administrative offices requiring attention, the next-senior member of the government to currently hold office or whose new election has succeeded may hold the position in caretaker status. Thus, the Hŕromszéki Prime Ministership has been held by persons as far down the chain as the Minister of Culture (Anna LESOURD, PM April 1507 - August 1507, whose qualification for office was her four-decade career as an operatic soprano.) As the Hŕromszéki confederation is a weak one, national vacancies do not matter greatly. Most of the business of government is done at the republic and local level. |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Confederal Assembly (424 seats;
members are elected by popular vote or appointment (Senators and Reps from republics' legislatures)
and indirect representation (local official seats) under a
system of proportional and direct representation to serve five-year terms
elections: last held September 1524 (next to be held November 1529) |
| Judicial branch: | No national judiciary per se. Constitutional Court
justices are elected by the Federal Assembly for 17-year terms, but are technically officers
of the Republics. Provincial Court of Appeals (judges are elected by applicable portion of Federal Assembly for 9-year terms) - these rule on cases at the sub-republic level, for convenience referred to as provinces. Provincial Bar (judges are elected by popular vote among the counties (and other subdivisions) comprising the provinces). |
| Political parties and leaders: | Hŕromszék has too many active political
parties to permit a comprehensive listing. As membership is typically not
exclusive, citizens may hold membership in numerous parties - some have
membership limits that are mutually restrictive (e.g. if one joins party
A one may not concurrently hold membership in parties M-Q ...). Alliances
and coalitions are fluid, and documentation of them is best left to political
writers and Civics textbooks. This representative sample of groups is neither
exhaustive nor should omissions carry any meaning. Alliance of Free Democrats or HZDSZ [Gabor KOVACS, moderator]; Partie Tecnocracie Libre [Loirisette KEBEC, Director]; Merited Alpards [Sandovar TICHY, Designated Speaker]; Upper Jurajreika Trade Party [Mark GLES, Steward]; Social Union of Obilnice and Tarej [Viktor DESNY, Guildcaptain]; Cruisan Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Gyorgy LAVOISER, president]; Federation of Young Democrats-Hŕromszék Civic Party or FYD-HCP [Laszlo MALIKOVA]; note - used to be Hŕromszéki Civic Party or FIDESZ; Hŕromszék Democratic Forum or HDF [Ibolya YAKOBVIN]; Grange of the Villemreika [Edouard MANSZVACHIV, chairman]; Granger Plainsmen [Mit BROGVRY, prinipal]; Hŕromszéki Democratic People's Party or HDNP [Erzsebet DZURINDA, chairman]; Hŕromszéki Justice and Life Party or HIEP [Isobel HASURKA, chairman]; Hŕromszéki Socialist Party or HSZP [Laszlo HAMZIK, chairman]; Hŕromszéki Workers' Party or HMP [Gyula TALDEBORD, chairman]; Independent Smallholders or FKGP [Jozsef BUDAJ, president]; Anarchic Citizens Group or AGK [no leader]; Cruisian and Democratic Union-Hŕromszék People's Party or KDU-HSL [Cyril SVOBODA, chairman]; Libertarian Labor Unionists or ELU [Harszobel FNITC, chair]; Authoritarian Laissez-Faire Partie de St-Jurité or PLFAStJ [Isolde APERTÚ, grande maître]; Mounist Alliance or AM [Ahmad VIRTOCHEK, chairman]; Reactionary Cadre or CR [Cletus József EÖTVÖS, primus]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Conservative Civic Democratic Party or LODS [Vaclav MIGAS, chairman]; Communist Party of Skyaav and Magor or KSSM [Miroslav ZEMAN, premier]; Communist Association of Hŕromszék or KSH [Marianne STEPAN, chairman]; Loirisian National Social Party or CSNS [Annette CLEPTOCHET, chairman]; Ŕlmosi Social Democratic Party or ŔSSD [Milos St-YPRES, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Harrison Friesolán, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Hana MARVANOVA, chairman]; Republicans of Montagny RM [Miroslav SLADEK, president]; Cruisian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Union or LDU [Jan TORGYAN, chairman]; Movement for a Democratic Hŕromszék or HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR, chairman]; Party of Civic Understanding or SOP [Pavol DEMSZKY, chairman]; Alliance of Cruisian and Social Unionists [Izabela NUCHIV, moderator]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef KLAUS, chairman]; Party of the Hŕromszék Libertarian Coalition or SHLK [Bela BUGARRETIK, chairman]; Skyaav Democratic and Cruisian Union or SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA, chairman]; Ris Democratic Coalition or RDK (loose parliamentary club grouping representing members of the smaller RSDS, RZS, and those committed to run under RDKU in 1529) [Mikulas PUSZTAI, president]; Yom National Party or SNY [Anna KOVER, chairman]; Partie d'Ortudais or PdO [Philippe JARDONNAIS, chairman]; GrupZöld (Greens) or GZHZ [Zoltán TEGEDÜS, president] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Haromszeki Rail Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Association of Employers of Hŕromszéki States; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Gas and Metal Workers Unions or KOVO / METALURG; Environmental Justice League; International Trade Society; Linguistic Conformance Group; Conservative Society; Liberal Front, Immigrant Action Caucus, Reserve Force Retiree Union, Migrant Rights Force, Miners' Alliance, Navigation Tradesmen |
| Confederal flag description: | Khosantic cross of yellow on a field of green. Nopalcanic knot emblem in yellow on a shield of yellow and green in the top hoist-side quadrant. Reversed form (hoist to right) is equally acceptable for display. |
| Hŕromszék | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | Hŕromszék continues to demonstrate both economic growth and economic stability. The private sector accounts for over 88% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hŕromszéki firms is widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling CC 755 billion by 1524. Hŕromszéki Multipartite debt was upgraded in 1525 to the second-highest rating among all the Cisteuvian Rim economies. Inflation - a top economic concern in the 1500's - is now limited to under 2.4% average, pushed upward intermittently by fluctuating oil and gas prices (largest import sector). |
| GDP: | purchasing power parity - CC 4.045 trillion (1526 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2.5% (1526 est.) |
| GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - CC 28,368 (1524 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 11%
industry: 34% services: 55% (1526 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 1.6% (1526 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1525) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.4% (1526 est.) |
| Labor force: | 58.2 million (1525) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | managerial and professional 12.2%, technical, sales and administrative support 26.2%, services 21.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 29.6%, farming, forestry, and fishing 10.5% (1525 census) |
| Unemployment rate: | 3.4% (1525) (varies widely by republic) |
| Budget- confederal: | revenues: CC 3.4 billion
expenditures: CC 3.4 billion, |
| Budget - aggregate for republics: | revenues: CC 396 billion
expenditures: CC 390 billion, including capital expenditures of CC 36.4 billion (1525 est.) |
| Industries: | mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), lighter-than-air vehicles, services, manufacturing, agricultural product processing, telecom, datacomm, lumber, ceramics, glass, gas processing |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 2.8% (1526 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 1.13 trillion kWh (1514) |
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 32.9%
hydro: 20.5% nuclear: 41.6% tidal: 1.6% other: 3.4% (1513) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 1.12 trillion kWh (1514) |
| Electricity - exports: | 16.35 billion kWh (1513) |
| Electricity - imports: | 9.46 billion kWh (1514) |
| Agriculture - products: | barley, corn, fruit and vegetable produce, horses, fish, textile fibers, dairy products, processed foods, grain alcohol, softwood products, sugar beets, vegetable oil |
| Agriculture - imports: | horses, wheat, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar cane, cattle, produce, rice, pork, sheep & sheep products, cotton, beverages |
| Exports: | CC 719.2 billion (f.o.b., 1514) |
| Exports - commodities: | light machinery and equipment, other manufactured goods, food products, copper, noble gases, LTA aircraft, coal, electricity, nuclear fuel, data comm gear and services, coal-fired power plant technology, brass products, tin, lead, silver, zinc, paper products, laminated-veneer products, publishing/ printing, photographic gear, control systems, paint / pigments, finished textiles, garments, woven goods, advanced coal-locomotive technology, radiation monitoring and measurement systems, glass & ceramics products, methane |
| Exports - partners: | Zirkae, Ostensia, Andrea, Schwerdt, Sunamia, Turia, Limor, Reichstadt, Sapmi |
| Imports: | CC 731.6 billion (f.o.b., 1524) |
| Imports - commodities: | vehicles, petrol products, steel, copper, manufactured goods, heavy machinery, construction equipment, aircraft, scrap materials, plastics, rubber, textile fibers, power plant technology (except coal-fired) |
| Imports - partners: | Vetlanda, Zirkae, ISR, Reichstadt, GDC |
| Debt - external: | CC 126.6 billion (1525) |
| Economic aid - recipient: | CC 22.7 million (1524) |
| Economic aid - donor (governments): | CC 788.5 million (1525) |
| Economic aid - donor (private): | CC 4.6 billion (1525 census) |
| Currency: | Skana = 100 boderu |
| Currency code: | HzSk |
| Exchange rates: | exchange rate 1 HzSk = 1.15 Christiana Crown (Jan. 1526) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| Hŕromszék | Communications | Top of Page |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 36.4 million (1525 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 48.8 million (July 1525 est.) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment:
the telephone system has been modernized and is capable of satisfying most
requests for telecommunication service domestic: the system is being digitalized and automated; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1499; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones; 84% of populace is served by 911 emergency systems at one of three levels (1526) international: Hŕromszék has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switches are in Antal-Gys, Ysekvadkert, Louisterre, and Rochan; satellite earth stations: 31 full comm, 12 more data-only |
| Radio broadcast stations: | 17 AM clear channel, 32,260 AM various restricted-power levels , 21,226 FM , 78 shortwave (1525 census) |
| Radios: | 298.06 million (1525 est.) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 3,465 (plus 776 low-power repeaters) (1526) |
| Televisions: | 43.5 million (1525) |
| Internet country code: | .hz |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1,134 (1526 est.) |
| Internet users: | 14.4 million (1518 est.) 27.5 million (1526 est) |
| Hŕromszék | Transportation | Top of Page |
| Railways: | total: 122,400 km
standard gauge: 3,014 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified; 2,436 km double-track) meter gauge: 113,600 km 1.0-m gauge (6,255 km electrified; 9,436 km double-track) narrow gauge: 4,219 km 0.760-m gauge other gauges: 1,579 km note: Hŕromszék and Sapmi jointly manage the cross-border, meter-gauge railway (connecting Ysekvadkert and a transfer point on the standard gauge Arrel Intermountain Railroad) which has a route length of about 180 km in Hŕromszék and 55 km in Sapmi |
| Highways: | total: 1,288,200 km
paved: 1,015,680 km (including 8,310 km of expressways) unpaved: 272,520 km (1514 est.) |
| Waterways: | total: 32,670 km rivers and lakes: 13,470 km (permanently navigable) canals: 19,200 km (1514) |
| Pipelines: | crude oil 11,787 km; (1,908 km is the
VetPetrol Zîrkćn line) natural gas (trunk lines) 4,380 km (1526) |
| Major ports and harbors: | Shopricti, Fitzallaine, Gysob, St-Phillipe,
Körötorsk (coastal) Hajel, Jŕnhelom, Oroshtözer, Szidvár, Rochon, Koneki, Jaszarkany, Szeglocsvŕrnňszlo, Logszemsce, Somoszenes (inland) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 38 ships (1,000
GRT or over) ships by type: cargo 38 (1526 est.) note - these are those operated by governmental entities - most Hŕromszéki shipping is by commercial carriers |
| Airports: | 146,210 total (1525 census) (includes hanger-plus-
strip-of-straight-road strips) 5,508 dedicated commercial + general aviation operations 1,745 with control tower, navaids, and manned communications |
| Heliports: | 34,553 (1525 est.) |
| Aerodromes (lighter-than-air facilities): | most of above 5,508 general airports, plus many of the 34,553 heliports, plus 19,030 additional locations with at least a mooring post and comm link (1514 est.) |
| Hŕromszék | Military | Top of Page |
| Military branches: | Border Patrol Coordination Office (land), Coast Guard Coordination Office (sea and riverine forces), Air Recon and Rescue Coordination Office (air units). Each of these is merely a few-hundred person confederal office to coordinate activities of the various republics' military units. Those vary in quality and quantity. The below represent aggregate numbers from all across the CHzS. |
| Military manpower - military age: | 18 years of age |
| Military manpower - availability: | generally males age 18-49, though requirements of the various republics vary a bit: 28,573,119 (1518 est.) |
| Military manpower - in armed forces: | active duty: males - 194,121 (1518) females - 51,654 (1518) reserves: males - 21,574,600 (1518 est.) females - 7,441,800 (1518 est.) Note: typically, reservists' two weeks of service per year is half training, but also includes active service in local short-term projects, so the effective standing strength of the various Hŕromszéki militaries is far above 250,000. |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 967,121 (1520 est.) |
| Military expenditures - federal plus republics: | CC 198.4 billion (FY1521) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 4.9% (FY1521) |
| Hŕromszék | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | Niverian Conference on Emissions 1518 Dialog Papers listed Hŕromszéki bituminous coal as a major pollutor of Niverian air. Projections show Hŕromszéki acid-producing pollution to fall below Conference goal levels by 1529. Hŕromszék has asked if our Niverian neighbors are so serious about reducing sulfur emissions, why do they purchase so much of our (cheaper) bituminous coal, when we also offer abundant quantities of lower-sulfur anthracite for export? NCoE has not responded. |
| Transport influence peddling | Neighboring Niverian nations periodicaly complain about undue Haromszeki Rail Union interference in their local transportation systems. HzRU management typically reply that arrangements are above-board, legal, and beneficial to all parties concerned. |
| Illicit drugs: | Hŕromszék continues to be subjected to Kwasinan heroin and cannabis importation -- far in excess even of our own modest domestic consumption. We are being used as a transit point for shipments elsewhere in Niveria. Border Patrol seizes tons of cannibis outgoing, and the Coast Guard seizes like quantities inbound. Even our domestic crime Families are incensed (no moral compunctions; they just aren't able to get in on the action). Coast Guard has lost patrol boats and had cutters damaged in outright gun battles at sea with the smugglers. |