11 KILOS GETS MOM NINE YEARS

A mother found guilty of importing 11.4 kilograms of heroin concealed
in her suitcase while returning from India with her young son has been
sentenced to nine years in jail.

Kamaljit Kaur Dyal, 47, was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court after a
jury found her guilty for acting as a drug mule in November 2004. Her
son is now 11 years old.

The heroin, which had a street value of $6 million, was hidden in
false-sided suitcases and in picture frames under the cover of wedding
photographs.

"It involved the use of an innocent-looking woman travelling with her
son to avoid detection from the crime," Justice Barry Davies said.

The Davies said the jury found the woman -- who was married, had no
criminal record or addiction to drugs and had been a contributing
member of society -- wasn't innocent, although her only involvement
was as a courier.

"Ms. Dyal's involvement was solely profit-motivated," Davies wrote in
his judgment.