U.S. SENDS 'HARSH' MESSAGE TO B.C. SMUGGLERS

SEATTLE - A U.S. federal judge who sentenced five B.C. first nations
members for marijuana-smuggling advised them to spread the word back
home about harsh U.S. penalties.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced them Friday to six
months in prison and two years of probation for their roles in the
smuggling scheme.

They were arrested at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing at Sumas on
Oct. 30, riding in vans that each carried about 36 kilograms of
marijuana. Travelling in a large group, with a treaty right to
unrestricted travel between the two countries, they hoped to disguise
their purpose, prosecutors said.

Martinez rejected a defence request for a sentence of probation,
saying he wanted to send a message to drug smugglers.

"I want every other first nation member in Canada, and I want every
other Canadian, to understand that the sentencing laws of the United
States are very, very harsh," Martinez said.

Sentenced were Abraham Charles Sheena, 54, of Merrit; Fayve Quilt,
32, and Dide Quilt, 23, both of Hanceville; Joanne Rosette, 27, of
Alkali Lake; and Ranger Oppenheim, 38, of Merritt.