POLICE CONFISCATE MARIJUANA DESTINED FOR LOCAL YOUTHS, GUNS INVOLVED

OROVILLE, WASHINGTON -- As drug busts go, the confiscation of 105 pounds of
high-grade marijuana last week isn't the big leagues, but one law
enforcement official involved sees a disturbing trend.

Chris Rinzler, a senior investigator with the Border Patrol who has worked
in narcotics for 20 years, said conversation with kids in the Northeast
Okanogan County area indicates there is a large quantity of marijuana in the
area.

And much of it is targeted at youth in both junior and senior highs, Rinzler
said.

``We believe use has gone up (in the area),'' he said, adding that he has
heard the same thing from some school officials.

A Okanogan County report released in October, Healthy Youth in Okanogan
County, indicated that youth in all grades are increasingly involved in
alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Marijuana use increased between 1990 and
1998 in all grades, according to a statewide survey of youth behavior.

Rinzler said the 105 pound seizure outside Molson on January 26th barely
dents the activity of dealers in Okanogan County who are turning over
several hundred pounds of marijuana each week. He estimated the value of
the pot at about $500,000.

Two men, Edward Hurst , age 20 of Bridesville, B.C. and Andrew Rathbone, age
34 of Osoyoos, B.C. were arrested in the joint US/Canada operations, he
said. A team of five Royal Canadian Mounted Police joined with the Border
Patrol to make the arrests in a fielded area several miles west of Molson
locally known as Nine Mile Reach. Rinzler said an informant's tip led to the
capture of the two suspects. Hurst and Rathbone were later transported to
Spokane to face federal drug and weapons charges.

As disturbing as the marijuana, Rinzler said, was the presence of weapons,
including a .380 automatic pistol and a Beretta 9 mm with a special
30-bullet clip that made it look like a machine gun. The combination of
guns with drug deals can lead to gunplay and innocent people can get hurt,
he said.

"Judging from the freshness and quality, the marijuana probably came down
from the Okanogan Valley " he said. The packages were double wrapped and
heat-sealed to cut the odor. They were delivered in large gym bags, the
conveyance of choice for those moving drugs across the Canadian border, he
added.

Why more marijuana?

Rinzler said the significant increase in marijuana coming out of Canada into
the United States coupled with higher penalties for dealing in cocaine,
heroin and methamphetamine have made marijuana more popular among some drug
dealers.