DRUG PROBE LED POLICE TO RAID B.C. LEGISLATURE

Evidence Seized From Offices Of Assistants To 2 Cabinet Ministers

VANCOUVER -- A police raid of the offices of two ministerial assistants at
the B.C. legislature on Sunday came after a drug trade investigation turned
up evidence of other possible crimes, RCMP said yesterday.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. John Ward said the massive 20-month drug probe was set
up to investigate how organized crime was involved in selling B.C.-grown
marijuana in the U.S. in exchange for cocaine, which was then sold on
Canadian streets.

But in the course of their investigation, police came across evidence of
other crimes -- which led to Sunday's raid on the offices of two
ministerial assistants, Sgt. Ward said.

He refused to discuss the nature of the allegations, saying it could
compromise the ongoing investigation.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who is in Hawaii, called the situation
"troubling," but said he did not think there was a need for him, or his
ministers, to return from their vacations.

According to sources, the two government offices targeted in Sunday's raids
were those of David Basi, assistant to Finance Minister Gary Collins, and
Bob Virk, assistant to Transportation Minister Judith Reid.

Yesterday, the B.C. cabinet fired Mr. Basi, citing a lack of confidence in
him, while Mr. Virk was suspended with pay.

In a prepared statement released yesterday, Mr. Basi, a prominent organizer
for both the provincial and federal Liberal parties and a well-known
supporter of Prime Minister Paul Martin, said he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk were appointed by cabinet.

In a province accustomed to political scandal, Sgt. Ward was quick to point
out that no politicians or parties have been targeted in the investigation.

"I want to make this very clear: the search warrants that police executed
at the B.C. legislature did not involve any elected provincial politicians
in B.C.," Sgt. Ward said.

The investigation involves the RCMP's organized crime, drug and commercial
crime sections.

About 20 officers were involved in Sunday's search of the legislature,
which included the large offices of Mr. Collins and Ms. Reid and the
smaller offices of their staff. After several hours, they emerged with
about 30 cardboard boxes that were taken away in a white van.

The legislature raid was just one of several premises searched by the RCMP
and Victoria police over the weekend, including: Mr. Basi's home, an
accounting office in Victoria, the Victoria office of a consultant who
lobbies the provincial government and the home offices of two people living
in the Vancouver area.

No arrests have yet been made in connection with this weekend's raids, Sgt.
Ward said.

Victoria police Chief Paul Battershill did confirm the investigation is
connected to the recent suspension of Victoria police Const. Ravinder
Dosanjh. Chief Battershill said there is an "indirect relationship" between
the suspended police officer and either Mr. Virk or Mr. Basi.