POT CONVOY BAFFLES ARMY

VANCOUVER (CP) -- A spokesperson with the Canadian army reserves in British Columbia is baffled at how a part-time soldier got access to army vehicles used to transport potent marijuana to the United States.

Dan Thomas said yesterday that only a few people have keys to the vehicles and he's not sure whether the reserve soldier charged in the case was one of them.

"The vehicle has to be properly dispatched," Thomas said. "You can't just walk in there and take one of our trucks for a joyride."

Sgt. Sten Strom, of 12 Vancouver Service Battalion in Richmond, B.C., was arrested during the weekend along with fellow Canadians Roderick Brennan, Brent Rusnak, Yoshi Yamada and Robert Laurin.

U.S. citizens Wesley Antholz and Erin Harmes face the same charges.

They were charged Monday in a Washington court with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana.

Strom, 36, and Rusnak, 32 were wearing Canadian army uniforms when apprehended after more than 100 kilograms of so-called B.C. Bud was found in one of the military vehicles. Rusnak is a civilian.

Thomas said the Richmond battalion is a reserve unit where part-time soldiers are responsible for supporting other units in the field with transporting and maintaining vehicles.

He said soldiers are usually on weekend courses during the summer.

"It's a bit of a mystery to me right now how this all came to pass."

Harold Malkin, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office, said the five Canadians - including the soldier - and the two Americans arrested will be tried in U.S. Federal Court.

If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison. The penalty for the offence in Canada is similar.