RCMP SEEK FACTS ON FISH-DRUGS CONNECTION

Claim Of Link Between Illegal Drug Trade And Black-Market Salmon News To
Us, Say Police

OTTAWA -- The RCMP, saying it knows nothing about an alleged link in B.C.
between illicit drugs and the black-market trade in illegally caught fish,
called on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Tuesday to share any
information it has on this activity.

A report released last week by retired judge Bryan Williams quoted one
federal fisheries officer who said it is "well documented within our agency
that those people are trading drugs for fish or fish for drugs."

But RCMP Sgt. Dave Goddard said Tuesday he was "astounded" to read about
the drugs-for-fish link.

"We have not heard of this type of offence going on or this type of
trafficking going on," said Goddard, spokesman for the RCMP's Greater
Vancouver Drug Section.

"It may be well documented within the department of fisheries, but it's
certainly not well documented within the Mounted Police that there's any
trafficking going on with regards to fish for illicit drugs."

Federal fisheries officers, he said, should share this kind of information
even if dealing with drug issues isn't part of their mandate.

"I'm sure they are more interested in fishing-related offences, and if they
do have any type of illicit drug information, then yes, of course we'd be
very much interested in obtaining that information from them.

An official with DFO would not comment last week on the matter, and DFO
officials remained silent again Tuesday.

The Williams report said there were extensive illegal sales of salmon in
B.C., with much of the salmon going to buyers in Alberta.

Douglas Cowan, a fisheries officer based in Salmon Arm, told panel members
the "fish black market is tied closely with the drug trade," according to
the report.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP John Cummins slammed the federal government
Tuesday for cancelling the second phase of Williams' study into B.C.'s
salmon fishery.

Williams limited last week's study to the reasons why 1.3 million sockeye
went missing on the Fraser River. He planned to report later this year on
salmon management issues for B.C.'s south coast.

Cummins speculated that the federal Liberals have been rattled by Williams'
report, which blamed federal mismanagement, unusually warm water
temperatures, and "rampant" illegal fishing and sales by aboriginals for
last summer's problems.

He suggested that Ottawa fears what Williams might say about an internal
report on illegal fishing by B.C.'s Cheam Indian band, which was released
to the retired judge after the report had been finalized and was being sent
by courier to Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan.

"What is the minister afraid of? Is the Williams Committee getting too
close to the truth?" Cummins said in a statement.

"The Williams Committee was given a job to do; let them finish it."

Brian Underhill, a spokesman for Regan, said Cummins' assertion is
"absolutely not true."

He said the key DFO concern was the Fraser River sockeye, and Williams has
delivered on that objective. Underhill added that the budget for the
Williams committee has already been spent.