POLICE CONFISCATE 110 KILOS OF COKE ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH $8.8 MILLION

Seven People Allegedly Tied To Two City-Based Drug
Syndicates

The bricks of cocaine -- 110 kilograms in all -- were distinctively
stamped with Casper the Friendly Ghost.

Members of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit yesterday
showed off the seized cocaine, estimated to be worth $8.8 million,
that has come back to haunt seven people allegedly with close ties to
two Vancouver-based drug syndicates.

Insp. Pat Fogarty said the two cells of crime groups working out of
the Lower Mainland moved big quantities of drugs to Toronto and Montreal.

"This involved the importation of significant amounts of cocaine into
Canada from the United States, where it was then taken to Eastern
Canada for distribution," he said.

The special drug squad alleges these criminal organizations shipped
the cocaine to Montreal and Toronto by commercial aircraft and
long-distance drivers in modified vehicles with hidden
compartments.

"The going wholesale rate for one kilogram of cocaine is about $20,000
in Vancouver, but it's $26,000 in Toronto or Montreal," said Fogarty.
"The market's flooded here in Vancouver, so they can make a good
profit by shipping it east.

"Fortunately for the police, that means more opportunities to catch
these guys and shut them down."

Charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine have
been laid against Danielle Ledesma, Herman Jacinto Munoz Perez, Julio
Cesar Reyes Chicon and Edy Arismendy Martinez-Marte. They are in
custody, pending trial.

Cesar Maidana has also been charged with possession for the purpose of
trafficking in cocaine, and has been released on $100,000 bail.

There is a warrant out for Isaac Richard Jenkins for the same
offences. Another man, Victor Rubin Zamora of Chile, has been
sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to importing
cocaine.

The four-month investigation was initiated by a Canada Border Services
Agency cocaine seizure at the border.

The distinctive Casper comic character insignia on the cocaine came
from a stamp at the place it was made, Fogarty said.

"We can't determine the exact country and source of the cocaine," he
said. "This is a considerable amount but we're seizing more and more
large lots."

Fogarty said in order to import and sell large quantities of cocaine,
a crime group needs to have connections.

"These guys are well-connected to the source," he said.

"In order to be well-connected you have to be trusted and that takes
time."

Police said cocaine was smuggled by vehicles from the U.S. into the
Lower Mainland and shipped to Eastern Canada by drug couriers in
private vehicles and commercial airlines on a monthly and weekly basis.

The drug runners would then return to B.C. with the
cash.

Two vehicles seized by police had sophisticated hidden compartments to
hide the drugs for transportation.

The one-kilo bricks of cocaine were wrapped in plastic and mustard to
avoid detection.

Police also seized more than $100,000 in cash.

Along with the Canada Border Services Agency, the investigation
involved Vancouver and Abbotsford police and the RCMP Border Integrity
Unit.

Vancouver police Insp. Dave Nelmes said the integrated approach to
drug-trafficking is showing good results.

"A file like this would be nearly impossible for us to do alone," he
said. "This is the way to go. You get information from a variety of
sources."