GANG FORCED ME TO SMUGGLE POT, CUSTOMS OFFICER SAYS

A Canadian customs officer accused of trying to smuggle 100 kilograms of
marijuana across the border at Blaine, Wash., claims he was transporting
the drugs "because Indo-Canadian gangsters had threatened his family,"
according to a statement sworn before a U.S. judge Wednesday.

Altaf Merali, a 37-year-old Surrey resident, is charged under U.S. federal
law with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. If convicted, he faces a
mandatory minimum term of five years behind bars, with a maximum of 40
years and a $2-million fine.

Merali made his first appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle
Wednesday, and will remain in jail pending the results of a bail hearing,
scheduled for Monday, May 9. Following Wednesday's court appearance,
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jennings said it is "unfortunate when a
person in a position of trust like a customs officer betrays that trust."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities estimate the value of the
marijuana at $680,000 US.

A statement sworn in the Seattle court by Jacob Black, special agent with
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says the marijuana was discovered
early Tuesday afternoon.

The discovery was made after a U.S. customs computer "randomly selected" a
GMC Safari van driven by Merali for a secondary customs search.

With his Canada Customs uniform hanging in a rear window, Merali had
earlier "flashed" his customs badge to a U.S. customs officer and stated he
was coming to visit an area director for United States Customs and Border
Protection, according to Black's statement.

Once inside the port of entry, Merali allegedly took a border guard aside
and told him he was transporting marijuana.

Special agents Black and Andrew Poore were quickly called in from
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to Black's statement, Merali allegedly told the agents that a man
in his south Surrey neighbourhood and another known to him only as "Sam"
had recruited him in November to smuggle marijuana south across the border
and bring cocaine back into Canada. Merali said the neighbour had
repeatedly tried to set up smuggling trips, but Merali kept backing out,
stating he was "scared."

At that point, according to court documents, Sam told Merali he was "in too
deep," adding, "if he kept backing out of deals, the people in the
organization would hurt Merali's family."

Merali allegedly told the agents the day he was arrested was his first
smuggling trip.

A second man -- 20-year-old Jason Dean Smith of Stanwood, Wash. -- was
arrested in connection with the marijuana at a McDonald's restaurant near
Bellis Fair Mall. Earlier, Merali allegedly told the agents he was to
deliver the marijuana to a man wearing a red baseball cap at that location.
The agents arrested Smith as he tried to flee the scene in a white Cadillac
Escalade.

On Wednesday, Patrick Higgins, public affairs officer with the Canadian
consulate in Seattle, said his office is aware of Merali's case "and the
consulate does have a role to play."

Higgins said a consular officer has been assigned to the case. The officer
is "not an attorney," Higgins said. "[His] role is to make sure that the
Canadian citizen is aware of anything they need to be aware of as they're
moving through these processes down here."

North of the border, Paula Shore, Canadian Border Services Agency
spokeswoman, confirmed Merali is a CBSA employee, but refused to comment on
his job title or description, nor would she say how long Merali has been
with the agency.

"We don't discuss employee-employer relationships," Shore said.

Merali is described as a "customs officer" in documents filed with the New
Westminster land title office. A property search showed Merali and his
wife, teacher Jennifer Merali, recently built a single-family home in a
newly developed neighbourhood on 150A Street in Surrey. The value of the
property is listed at $439,000. The couple recently celebrated the birth of
their second child, a boy. They also have a four-year-old son.

Neighbours were shocked to hear of Merali's arrest. Bill Warchol, who lives
across the street from the Meralis' large, two-storey home, described Altaf
- -- known as "Al" -- Merali as a "nice" guy, adding he is captain of the
neighbourhood Block Watch program.

In Coquitlam, where Merali and his wife lived prior to moving to Surrey
earlier this year, Colin Campbell said he was "almost in tears" to learn
the man accused in the smuggling was his friend and former next-door
neighbour, Al Merali.

"I'm sick. I'm absolutely sick," Campbell said. "He's a fabulous guy."

Campbell, a criminology teacher at Douglas College, said Merali was a
frequent guest speaker in his class as a representative of the Canadian
Border Services Agency and would actively recruit students to become
customs officers. "He was very proud of what he did," Campbell said.