ABBOTSFORD MAN JAILED 12 YEARS FOR SMUGGLING

Matthew Reed Was Instrumental In Largest Cocaine Deal Busted In
Queensland

AUSTRALIA - A former Abbotsford man who "chose the wrong path" to
fast, easy money has been dealt 12 years in an Australian jail for his
role in the largest cocaine bust in Queensland's history.

Brisbane Supreme Court Justice James Douglas was told Matthew Thomas
Reed, 26, was "high in the chain" of an international drug syndicate
that smuggled a massive amount of cocaine and ecstasy from Delta to
Brisbane.

Reed had hoped to make at least $1 million from the deal, court was
told. He called his girlfriend from Australia shortly before his
arrest to tell her "everything is going to be better. The rest of our
lives are good."

The drugs -- 135 kilograms of cocaine and 120,000 ecstasy tablets --
were hidden in used computer monitors split between two shipments in
May and September.

The spring shipment eluded police, court was told. But suspicious
customs officers using X-ray equipment found the larger fall shipment,
which was replaced with an inert substance and tracked.

Six men were eventually arrested, including five Canadians and an
Australian dubbed the mastermind of the ring.

Charges of possession, importing and conspiracy laid against one of
the Canadians, Abbotsford volunteer firefighter Dereck Hotner, were
dropped in December. Hotner, who planned to return to Canada, could
not be reached for comment yesterday.

Reed pleaded guilty to four counts of importing a commercial quantity
of border-controlled drugs. Each count carries a maximum penalty of
life imprisonment or a fine of $825,000.

Court was told Reed was the second-in-command of the ring and spent
about a year planning and executing the importations.

He arranged shipments, helped package the drugs, registered a false
business for importing recycled computers and leased a Brisbane
warehouse, testimony showed.

Reed must serve eight years of his 12-year-sentence before he is
eligible for parole.

"You appeared to be someone who wanted to make money quickly and
early, but you chose the wrong path," the judge said. "It's been
disastrous for you and those who love you."