FIVE LOCAL PEOPLE INVOLVED IN DRUG BUST

AKWESASNE - Five residents of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation were
among dozens of people indicted for allegedly trafficking millions of
dollars in cash and marijuana at two other reservations.

The 11-month investigation into trafficking networks at the Onondaga
Indian Reservation near Syracuse and Salamanca Indian Reservation near
Buffalo led to the arrests Wednesday of 29 people.

Each was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the
intent to distribute marijuana, according to a news release from the
U.S. Attorney's Office in Syracuse.

Investigators said the networks smuggled thousands of pounds of pot
into the United States through the St. Regis Reservation, then took it
to the Onondaga reserve, where some was sent to Salamanca, Long Island
and Philadelphia.

Millions of dollars was then filtered back to the Mohawk territory and
into Canada, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

During arrests Wednesday, law-enforcement officials seized 100 pounds
of pot, more than $350,000 in cash, 10 vehicles and five guns.

"High-potency marijuana produced in Canada and then smuggled into the
United States has increased largely because it is so profitable,"
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Baxter said in the news release.

"Violence and other serious criminal activity are closely associated
with the illegal importation of marijuana because of the large amounts
of money at stake."

He said investigations will continue "to deter future smuggling and
maintain the security of our northern border."

It is the second time in less than a month that law-enforcement
officials have arrested residents of St. Regis Reservation in major
drug busts. In November, 34 people, some local, were indicted in
connection with drug smuggling at the reservation.