CANADIAN ARRESTED IN INDIAN DRUG BUST

Shipment Was For Canada Or California: Reports

NEW DELHI - A Canadian man was arrested with US$5-million worth of
illegal drugs in the Indian capital on Saturday, in what was billed
as a major effort to stop narcotics from being shipped to North
America, police said.

About 100 kilograms of ephedrine, hashish and other illegal drugs
were seized overnight from Girdish Singh Toor, 29, while he was
leading a convoy of vehicles in New Delhi, police deputy commissioner
Ravindra Yadav said.

Varying reports out of New Delhi said the drugs were headed for San
Diego or Canada.

"As per officials of Narcotics Control Bureau and U.S. Drug
Enforcement [Agency] of the U.S. embassy in India, this is the
biggest catch ever" of drugs used at raves and other large parties in
the West, Mr. Yadav said.

"The value of the seized drugs is more than $5-million in the
international market," Mr. Yadav said. Three more men were arrested
under India's tough anti-narcotics laws and more arrests are
expected, he added.

Mr. Toor, who arrived from Canada on an Indian visa two years ago,
was arrested after the police noted a lavish lifestyle of high-end
hotels and expensive cars. He came to India with two other Canadians
and two unnamed men of Chinese origin to set up an international drug
syndicate, with the help of the three arrested Indians who supplied
banned drugs such as ephedrine, Mr. Yadav said.

Rejean Beaulieu, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Ottawa, yesterday said the government is still working to confirm Mr.
Toor is a Canadian citizen.

"We have been made aware of a case that could involve a Canadian,"
Mr. Beaulieu said. "We are checking if this individual is indeed
Canadian, if he has citizenship. If it's the case, we will offer
consular services, as we do."

Three other men were also arrested.

Press reports from India said the drugs were neatly stored in small
pouches that were placed in the cavities of framed paintings.

"He [Mr. Toor] was contacted by Canadian and Chinese drug cartels and
he was supplying this drug to them," Mr. Yadav said, according to the
Indo Asian News Service.

Ephedrine, a stimulant, can be used as a base to make drugs such as
Ecstasy and other amphetamines.

India has pressed for an international treaty endorsed by the United
Nations to crack down the drug trade because it is a key source of
funding for terror groups.