U.S. AGENTS SNAG 11, SEIZE HAUL OF B.C. POT

U.S. drug officials have nailed what they believe is a major
distribution network for B.C. marijuana.

In an elaborate sting, officials with the Drug Enforcement
Administration busted Winnipeg's Brandon Tutt and 10 other men who
they believe were about to deliver $3.8 million worth of B.C. bud to
points as far afield as Southern California.

The DEA, acting on an informant's tip along with police from Puyallup
and Kitsap counties, staked out the Courtyard Inn in Tukwila, a
suburb south of Seattle.

Tutt and an associate, Warren Wong, allegedly repeatedly made
cross-border runs in a camper and trailer full of B.C. marijuana to
that location, where they would offload it to smaller distributors.

Police obtained a search warrant and seized 860 kilograms of pot,
weapons, and $110,000 US in cash.

But rather than stop there, investigators spent all day Monday
masquerading as dope pushers, using notes and cell-phone records from
the hotel room to con buyers into a sting.

One by one the buyers came to the hotel and were promptly busted.

In all, 11 men, all in their 20s or early 30s, were arrested and
charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, a charge which
carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

Tutt is alleged to have made periodic cross-border runs and stayed at
various hotels in Tukwila.

Agents spotted a camper and trailer fitting the description and
traced them to Tutt.

They found that Tutt had stayed in two local hotels, obtained a
search warrant and found exactly what they were looking for.

"Notes taken from the room showed various names, amounts of marijuana
destined for various buyers, and cellular telephone numbers to
contact the buyers."

The documents show that police were then able to search the
residences of several of the buyers, and along with marijuana and
paraphernalia seized numerous weapons.