CUSTOMS OFFICER SAYS B.C. GANG FORCED HIM TO SMUGGLE DRUGS

Arrested border guard tells U.S. federal judge that Indo-Canadian criminals
threatened his family

VANCOUVER -- A customs officer with the Canadian Border Services Agency is
in a U.S. federal prison awaiting a bail hearing after he was arrested
Tuesday at the truck crossing in Blaine, Washington allegedly trying to
smuggle more than 100 kilograms of B.C. bud past colleagues guarding the
U.S. border.

According to a statement sworn before a U.S. judge Wednesday, 37-year-old
Altaf Merali of Surrey said he was transporting the marijuana "because an
Indo-Canadian gang had threatened his family."

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

Merali made his first appearance before the U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle
Wednesday, and will remain in jail pending the results of a bail hearing
scheduled for May 9.

Following yesterday's court appearance, Assistant U.S. Attorney David
Jennings called Merali's alleged involvement in the drug smuggling scheme
"unfortunate when a person in a position of trust like a customs officer
betrays that trust."

The estimated value of the marijuana seized is estimated by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection authorities as $680,000 U.S.

In a statement sworn in the Seattle court by Jacob Black, special agent with
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the marijuana was discovered early
yesterday afternoon 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 court document.

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
known to him only as "Sam" -- a neighbour of Merali's south Surrey home --
had recruited him in November to smuggle marijuana south across the border
and bring cocaine back into Canada. Merali said the neighbor had repeatedly
tried to set up smuggling trips but Merali kept backing out, allegedly
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.