BUSTED: MILLIONS IN DRUGS, WEAPONS, MONEY AND VEHICLES SEIZED IN LANGLEY
CROSS-BORDER OPERATION

A major cross-border drug bust in Langley has resulted in police
seizing more than $2 million worth of merchandise under the
proceeds-of-crime legislation, including a helicopter worth $1
million, a $400,000 Surrey house, two Mercedes Benz automobiles and a
speedboat.

As well, the investigation netted almost 310 kilograms of marijuana
worth $1.7 million on the street, three kilograms of cocaine worth
$120,000, $480,000 in U.S. currency and $104,000 in Canadian currency.
In addition, stolen property was recovered, and weapons of all kinds
were seized.

A total of 21 people -- mainly Canadians -- have been charged in both
the U.S. and Canada, with charges expected to be laid against five
more people.

Langley RCMP Corporal Garry Begg said Tuesday the drug operation was
very organized, but is not believed to be part of a major crime
organization. "[But] this was big business. This was a fairly
advanced group.

"An investigation was begun, and, over the ensuing two years, a
massive, organized conspiracy, whose principal purpose was to export
marijuana into the U.S. from B.C. was uncovered."

Begg said the investigation involved RCMP, the Organized Crime Agency
of B.C. (OCABC) and the U.S. Customs Service.

Sergeant Randall Elliott of the OCABC said the most significant factor
in the investigation was how well Canadian and American law
enforcement agencies worked together. "This is a clear indication of
what can be done when resources are pooled."

Elliott said police believe the Aerospeciale Astar 350 helicopter was
used to fly B.C.-grown marijuana to drop-off points in Washington
state. "This particular helicopter was used more than once and
probably many times."

Elliott said OCABC members also executed search warrants on 16 banking
institutions, three private residences and one local business. Also
seized were two loaded handguns, several shotguns and rifles, four
Tazers (a form of stun gun) and two crossbows.

He said the suspects will face several charges, including trafficking;
possession for the purpose of trafficking; possession for the purpose
of exporting; conspiracy to traffic, possess and export; laundering
the proceeds of crime; possession of restricted and prohibited
weapons, and possession of property obtained through the proceeds of
crime.

Rodney Tureaud, special agent in charge of the U.S. Customs Office of
Investigation in Seattle, said the operation was "an excellent
example of effective cross-border law enforcement and the strong
relationship between our agencies."

Tureaud said the investigation is also continuing in the U.S. and more
people could be charged there. "The group was responsible for
numerous airdrops of marijuana into western Washington state and the
smuggling of firearms, cocaine and currency into Canada."

Begg said the investigation began in June 1999, when two people were
arrested by U.S. Customs at Squalicum Harbour while dismantling a
truck containing 15 kilograms of marijuana.

He said the investigation eventually led police to conduct
surveillance of a helicopter that flew from an Abbotsford residence to
a logging road in the Mount Baker area, where it allegedly dropped the
marijuana.

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ANATOMY OF A DRUG BUST:

- - June 12, 1999 -- The U.S. Customs Service arrested a Canadian and an
American at Squalicum Harbor in Washington State while the two were
dismantling a B.C.-registered half-ton truck. In it was 15 kg of
marijuana. During the investigation, the home and cellular phone
numbers of a Canadian surfaced.

- - July 8, 1999 -- Langley RCMP and the Vancouver-based proceeds of
crime section were advised of a Washington State resident, accompanied
by two Canadians, who were allegedly laundering money at a currency
exchange business in B.C. One of the Canadians was the same one whose
phone number surfaced in the Squalicum Harbor investigation.

- - March 28, 2000 --The U.S. Customs service arrested an American in
Bellingham in possession of nine kg of marijuana. The investigation
revealed one of the earlier-identified Canadians had arranged for the
marijuana to be exported from Canada, destined for Idaho. The Canadian
received $44,000 US, which he converted to Canadian funds at the
currency exchange in B.C.

- - April 1, 2000 -- U.S. Customs arrested a Canadian and an American in
Bellingham with 18 kg of marijuana. The investigation revealed the
exporting of this marijuana from Canada had been arranged by three
Canadians. Its destination was a buyer in Oregon.

- - April 8, 2000 -- Delta police stopped three males after they met at
a house in Delta. The males were in possession of $28,800 US. Later
the same day, Surrey RCMP arrested the same three males with seven kg
of marijuana after they left the same house.

- - April 16, 2000 -- U.S. Customs arrested an Idaho resident -- the
alleged recipient of the nine kg. of marijuana seized March 28 -- in
possession of 4.5 kg of marijuana, wired to the undercarriage of his
vehicle.

- - April 19, 2000 -- Two people were arrested after leaving a Surrey
residence and found to be in possession of 227 grams of marijuana.

- - May 3, 2000 -- Police observed a break-in at the residence of known
marijuana growers in Surrey. Four and a half kilos of marijuana were
stolen and taken to another residence. Langley RCMP stopped a man who
left the residence where the marijuana was being held and found him in
possession of 4.5 kg of marijuana.

- - May 17, 2000 -- Bellingham police seized $56,000 US from a Canadian
staying at a Bellingham hotel. The money was from a previous drug
transaction and destined for a Canadian.

- - June 4, 2000 -- Surrey and Langley RCMP executed a search warrant at
a residence. Inside, police found 200 marijuana plants and seven kg of
dried marijuana. Police also seized a stolen Arctic cat snowmobile and
a stolen Kawasaki motorcycle.

- - June 9, 2000 -- The Surrey and Langley RCMP drug squads arrested two
people in possession of $47,000 US. On the same day, police recovered
a stolen Kawasaki motorcycle.

- - June 17, 2000 -- The Langley RCMP drug squad arrested a person in
possession of 14 kg of marijuana.

- - June 23, 2000 -- U.S. Customs arrested one Canadian (the same one
arrested with the 14 kg. of marijuana June 17) and four Americans in
Bellingham, with 9.5 kg of marijuana. Another American (the man from
Idaho) was arrested at the same time with $22,940 US.

- - Aug. 22, 2000 -- The Organized Crime Agency of B.C. observed two
males depart in an Astar 350 helicopter from an Abbotsford residence.
The helicopter flew into a remote logging area in the Mount Baker area
of Washington state. Two large and one small duffel bags were loaded
off the helicopter into a vehicle with Washington State plates. The
vehicle went to a Bellingham residence, where its cargo was unloaded.
As the vehicle departed, Bellingham police stopped it. The driver was
a Surrey resident. Police returned to the house and discovered 39 kg
of marijuana.

- - Sept. 10, 2000 -- The Organized Crime Agency of B.C. and Abbotsford
police seized $250,000 US, $104,000 Cdn, one kg of cocaine, nine kg.
of marijuana, two loaded handguns and other weapons. Two additional
kilograms of cocaine were seized from a vehicle parked in the yard.