B.C. HELLS ANGELS CITED IN U.S. MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY

Two Gang Associates Indicted In $20M Indiana Case

VANCOUVER - B.C.'s Hells Angels are behind a US$20-million marijuana
conspiracy operation in Indiana that has led to federal grand-jury
indictments against 12 people, including two gang associates in B.C.
who remain fugitives from U.S. justice.

The U.S. attorney's office in Indianapolis says Ewan Lilford, a
30-year-old resident of B.C's Lower Mainland, and Patricio Rivera, 31,
of Jordan River on southwestern Vancouver Island, were involved in
conspiracies to distribute more than 2,000 kilograms of B.C. marijuana
through southern Indiana.

The indictment against Lilford, Rivera and 10 Indiana residents
alleges two separate conspiracies between May, 2000, and October,
2003. The 12 risk maximum sentences of life in prison and fines of
US$4-million if convicted.

Susan Brooks, U.S. attorney for the southern district of Indiana,
alleged that the 12 sought to distribute "$20-million worth of
high-quality 'B.C. Bud' marijuana supplied by members and associates
of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang of British Columbia."

She said gang members also grew marijuana indoors in both B.C. and
Indiana.

A copy of the indictment faxed to The Vancouver Sun alleges B.C.
marijuana, including seeds, was shipped south, while cocaine and cash
came north.

The Indiana indictment states Lilford is the owner of HT Sales Inc., a
motorcycle sales business operating as Hawg Traders.

Matthew Brookman, the assistant U.S. attorney who is prosecuting the
Indiana case, said in a phone interview the trial could be held within
the next year, and that he would be discussing possible extradition of
Lilford and Rivera soon with his superiors.

Mr. Brookman said the case remains one of the larger marijuana drug
operations for his office.

Meanwhile, Lilford is due to appear in Surrey, B.C., provincial court
on Sept. 3 on a charge of possession of cocaine for the purpose of
trafficking related to the Indiana conspiracy. Also charged is Glen
Jonathan Hehn, 30, a full member of the B.C. Nomads Chapter of the
Hells Angels.

The two were arrested in July last year after police seized 51
kilograms of cocaine worth $1.5- million from a truck and a locker at
Public Storage Canada in Surrey.