SMUGGLER SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR TRYING TO IMPORT 22.5 TONNES OF HASHISH

Peter Toman, the kingpin in a failed plot to import 22.5 tonnes of
hashish to Quebec by boat from Pakistan, has been sentenced to 11
years in federal prison.

Quebec Court Judge Martin Vauclair said yesterday he took into
account the fact Toman pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to
import drugs and trafficking and had no previous record for drug offences.

His arrest followed an RCMP undercover operation in which agents
contacted Toman to pick up the drugs off the coast of Angola and
transport them to Halifax. They then brought a tonne of the drugs to
an address in St. Jean sur Richelieu, Que.

The Crown seized the initial transport payment of $195,000 that Toman
unwittingly handed over to the undercover agents. Another $9-million
had been promised on delivery. The drug bust was one of the "most
significant seizures" in Canada, federal Crown prosecutor Silvie
Kovacevich said.