POT RING SMOKED OUT

7 Canadian residents to be sent state-side following major
cross-border drug bust

Canadian and U.S. authorities smashed a million dollar drug smuggling
ring and are preparing to ship seven Ontario residents south of the
border to face federal criminal charges.

In total, more than $1 million in cash and 237 kilos of marijuana were
seized throughout the cross-border investigation that led to
Thursday's raids and arrests.

Police allege the ring was trafficking marijuana harvested from indoor
grow-ops into the U.S. and funnelling cash back into Canada.

On top of the seven Canadian residents facing extradition, five GTA
residents face drug charges here in connection with six raids by the
Asian Organized Crime Task Force.

The RCMP, the Canadian Border Services Agency and several local police
forces swept up the seven in raids across the province Thursday --
netting individuals in Maple, Markham, Vaughan, Woodbridge, St.
Catharines, Ohsweken, and Windsor.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Marc LaPorte said Canadian officers have been
involved in the case for six months, after U.S. authorities alerted
them to a large marijuana bust in Pittsburgh.

U.S. PROBE

From that February seizure, U.S. investigators traced the source of
marijuana north to Canada.

"They were mostly the suppliers, some of them were growers, some of
them were facilitators, some of them were drivers," LaPorte told the
Sun yesterday.

"Basically the supply end was here, they would drive it down to the
States -- to Pittsburgh -- and bring back the money."

LaPorte called the bust a "fairly substantial" dent in a
well-organized, international drug ring.

Police said the ring was using everything from cars to transport
trucks to ferry the hidden drugs and carrying 36 to 68 kilos of pot
per trip.

The seven arrested on extradition warrants are charged with conspiracy
to possess and distribute a controlled substance in the U.S.

Under U.S. law that charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of
five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a $2 million fine or
both and four years of supervised release.

The Asian Organized Crime Task Force executed six search warrants in
Toronto, Oakville and Richmond Hill, Toronto Police said.

Officers seized 76 pounds of dried and packaged marijuana, 215 pot
plants, $170,000 in U.S. and Canadian cash, $200,000 in hydroponic
equipment, and four vehicles.

Small amounts of opium, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy were also found,
police said.

KIDS IN CARE

Two children, ages six and nine, were found during the raids and
turned over to the Children's Aid Society.

Police are still looking for one man wanted in connection with the
busts.

Tien Nguyen, 40, of Toronto, is charged with production of marijuana
and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

The raids coincided with arrests south of the border.

Officials at the U.S. attorney's office said six individuals were
arrested in Pittsburgh this week and two were netted in Florida. All
eight are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with
intent to distribute 100 kilos or more of marijuana.

Meanwhile, police in Milton seized more than 2,100 marijuana plants
after executing a search warrant yesterday.

They described the operation as a "sophisticated" laboratory in the
basement of a home that used a hydroelectric bypass to supply
electricity to the hydroponic system.

More than 4.5 kilos of dry marijuana ready for sale was also
seized.

Charges are expected to be laid pending further investigation.