U.S. SEES WAVE OF POT HEADING TO BORDER

Millions of dollars worth of B.C. marijuana have been seized since
patrols in Juan de Fuca Strait were scaled back

U.S. authorities have been busy in recent weeks catching Canadians
allegedly smuggling B.C. bud by the boatload across Juan de Fuca Strait.

Police speculate the rush to the border may stem from a recent U.S.
government decision to lower the terror alert level to yellow from
orange, which results in fewer patrols on the strait.

"The bad guys probably know that, so they took advantage of it as it
was downgraded and everybody came over at once," Capt. Ron Cameron of
the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team said Wednesday.

Police have seized more than 400 kilograms of marijuana in four
incidents near Port Angeles in less than two weeks, he said. Police
estimate the street value of the drugs at more than $2.7 million.

Eight to 10 Canadians have been arrested.

The seizures range in size from 25 kilograms to about 225 kilograms,
and the suspects could face significant prison time if prosecuted at
the federal level.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patty Lally said two Canadians charged after a
seizure of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana this week could get
five to 40 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to distribute
marijuana.

The two were arrested after the U.S. Coast Guard noticed an inflatable
boat approaching Pillar Point park, 55 kilometres west of Port
Angeles, about 2:15 a.m. Monday. When the boat flashed its light, two
vehicles at the boat launch flashed back, Lally said. The vehicles on
shore departed when the coast guard turned on its lights.

Later, investigators found an abandoned inflatable boat with six
duffel bags strapped to the interior. The bags contained vacuum-sealed
packs of marijuana, Lally said.

Nearby, investigators found two survival suits. "So they knew that
they had at least two occupants they were looking for," Lally said.

Later that morning, undercover officers in an unmarked car picked up
two men hitchhiking along the highway. One man was wearing neoprene
chest-waders and black knee-high rubber boots. The other was wearing a
one-piece fleece undergarment and wading boots.

"They said, 'Take us anywhere, we've been walking for six hours,'"
Lally said. "Not knowing that the driver and passenger of this vehicle
were actually detectives, they told the detectives that they were
Canadians who had been camping, but that all of their camping gear had
been stolen. This explanation was highly suspicious, since all the
camping grounds in the area had been closed for the winter season."

The two men were arrested. They have a detention hearing in Seattle
Friday.

Earlier this month, three men were found in a disabled boat west of
Port Angeles with two black hockey bags floating in the water nearby,
Cameron states in court documents. The bags contained almost 30
kilograms of marijuana in sealed food-saver bags. The documents say
the bags had stab marks, as if somebody had tried to sink them to
destroy evidence. Cameron said subsequent interviews revealed the
three men had left Sooke at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 10; they were picked
up at 9:15 a.m.

Cameron said Wednesday that it's "very unusual" to see this many cases
in such a short period. But he suspects it happens all the time.

The Washington coastline from Port Angeles to Neah Bay is as sparsely
populated as the stretch from Victoria to Port Renfrew, Cameron said.

"The farther west you go, except for a few burgs, it's pretty remote
and it's real ripe for people like this to bring things across," he
said.

Police says the marijuana sells for about $3,000 a pound in
Washington, but increases in price as it moves south.

"By the time you get down to L.A., I understand it's up close to
$5,000 a pound," Cameron said.

"It's pretty high quality bud. We all know it's world famous, this
B.C. bud. It's real sought-after in Southern California, because
they're used to the Mexican stuff, which is grown outdoors and just
doesn't have the kick."

The recent cases have swamped Cameron's joint task force, which is
headed by the Clallam County Sheriff's Department.

"It's been a lot of fun for my guys, that's for sure," Cameron
said.

"And they're dragging, but they are having a ball."