U.S.-B.C. DRUG SMUGGLING SPARKS PROBE

Drug smuggling across the B.C.-United States border has become such a
serious problem that politicians and police from both countries will soon
meet to discuss how to control Canada's most vulnerable section, B.C.'s
attorney-general said Sunday.

Ujjal Dosanjh and Christine Gregoire, attorney-general for Washington
state, will set up a meeting with top police officials, they announced
during a meeting of 10 attorneys-general and justice ministers from Western
Canada and western U.S. states.

``It is a very serious problem for us,'' Dosanjh said during a break in the
meeting. ``There are over 300 overdose deaths a year in British Columbia
and I understand the problems are increasing in Washington state as well.''

The meeting of high-level officials will take place sometime over the next
few weeks in Washington, where drug-related deaths are on the rise.

``The border county prosecutor told me there is a new strain of heroin and
coke of a magnitude that we've not seen before,'' said Gregoire.

B.C. and Washington officials hope to devise a strategy to ensure they're
not exporting their problems, allowing drugs and criminals to slip across
the border.

Gregoire believes heroin and cocaine are coming into Washington state from
Vancouver, while Dosanjh said it's his understanding the drugs are coming
the other way.

``However, as you know, the Vancouver port is now known for drug smuggling
. . . it may be that it hits here first and then goes back to the U.S.,''
he added.

Police recently reported that the Hells Angels motorcycle gang has
infiltrated Vancouver's container port and helped turn it into a major
North American entry point for illegal drugs.

The other trend officials discussed is the migration of U.S. marijuana
growers into B.C., where they're setting up hydroponic operations and then
taking their product back south.

``I have been advised by police sources that marijuana growing operations
are under the control of biker gangs and organized crime and the crop is
then shipped into the U.S.,'' said Dosanjh.

Dosanjh, Gregoire and other officials also discussed Internet crime --
including gambling and child pornography -- telemarketing fraud, and
lottery sales.

``Those who would commit telemarketing fraud and other types of crime don't
know the border,'' said Gregoire, who noted that recently B.C. and
Washington worked together to stop a major B.C. telemarketing racket that
bilked Washingtonians of several million dollars.

``I'm ashamed to say that British Columbia jurisdiction is being utilized
by perpetrators of fraud of vulnerable, elderly citizens of the United
States of America, of our neighbors,'' Dosanjh said.

The ministers held a closed session Sunday with no staff or outsiders
present in order to have candid talks, said Dosanjh.

Ministers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Oregon, Idaho, North
Dakota, Nevada and Alaska also attended .