HEAR THIS: SENTENCES ARE HARSH

A Seattle 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 Court Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced the five Friday
to six months in prison and two years of probation for their roles in
the 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.

"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," he said.