B.C.: STIFF PENALTIES FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS, U.S. JUDGE WARNS

Canadians acting as drug mules to bring marijuana over the American
border should brace themselves for "very, very harsh" legal
consequences, including serving several months in jail, a U.S.
district judge warned Friday.

Judge Ricardo S. Martinez made the comment at a sentencing hearing in
Seattle, Wash. involving five Canadians convicted in an attempted
marijuana-smuggling operation.

Abraham Charles Sheena, 54, Ranger Oppenheim, 38, both of Merritt;
Fayve Quilt, 52, and Dide Quilt, 23, both of Hanceville; and Joanne
Rosette, 27, of Alkali Lake, were each ordered to serve six months in
jail, followed by two years on probation.

The five were arrested Oct. 30, 2005, at the U.S.-Canada border
crossing at Sumas, riding in several vans that each carried about 40
kg of marijuana.

According to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office,
the five had attempted to use their treaty rights as first nations
members to travel unrestricted into the U.S. when they were arrested.

The five people area all members of first nations bands in B.C.

Martinez rejected a defence request to sentence the five accused to
terms of probation.