LOCAL HELD IN ALASKA ON POT CHARGES

Nanaimo RCMP Says Large Quantities Of Cannabis Are Going Into Northern State

A Vancouver Island man is behind bars in Alaska on charges of trying to
smuggle nearly 20 kilograms of marijuana into that state last month.

Peter Drewry, 46, of Nanoose Bay, was flying a float plane, which Alaska
authorities believe took off from Vancouver Island, and was forced to touch
down near Ketchikan on Feb. 23.

Ketchikan is the southern most city on the Alaska panhandle, and just north
of Prince Rupert.

Greg Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Public Safety,
said Drewry was forced to land near a small island because of fuel problems.

The emergency locator on the plane went off when he landed, and the
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad was sent out to assist him.

A punctured pontoon was repaired the next day, but leaked during takeoff
and the plane flipped. The plane sank, but on Feb. 25 was salvaged.

Staff with the salvage company thought it odd Drewry wanted to return to
the island since the plane had been salvaged.

They called police.

State troopers got to the island first and found four duffel bags
containing the pot.

Last Thursday, shortly after Drewry returned empty handed from the island,
he was arrested and charged with misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Mounties on the north coast say that smuggling pot from Canada into Alaska
"is huge."

"There are large quantities going into Alaska," said Cpl. Joanne Pearson,
with the RCMP north coast district drug section.

She said they've been aware for some time that a large amount of pot is
reaching Alaska from the B.C. coast. Pearson said police have not
identified any crime groups involved in the drug smuggling.

Staff Sgt. Phil Humphries, with the RCMP's north Island district drug
section in Nanaimo, said police are aware that Drewry was not acting alone.

He said they will not conduct an investigation here unless more information
is provided by U.S. authorities. Drewry remains in the Ketchikan
Correctional Centre.

Bail is set at $100,000.