DEAL STRUCK IN MASSIVE DRUG BUST

Two Winnipeg men have struck a deal with American justice officials to
plead guilty for their roles in a massive cross-border drug
trafficking ring and become key witnesses against the alleged
ringleader -- a fellow Winnipegger. Alan Mulder and Christian Laurin
admit they helped bring nearly 224,000 ecstasy pills -- which carry a
street value of $5.5 million -- into Montana in February 2008. Drug
enforcement officials have called the seizure one of the largest in
the state's history.

The two men, who have no prior criminal record, were facing between 10
years to life in prison under U.S. sentencing guidelines for the
charge of conspiracy to possess the drug for distribution.

They remain in custody and will be sentenced on April 8.

It's not immediately clear what impact their remorse and co-operation
will have on their eventual punishment.

Mulder and Laurin, both 19, are expected back in court on Monday to
testify against Winnipeg resident Timothy Morneau. The 32-year-old has
pleaded not guilty and opted for a jury trial, which is set for the
week in Billings, Montana.

According to court documents obtained by the Free Press, Morneau
allegedly recruited Laurin and Mulder to help him drive the ecstasy
tablets across the Canadian-American border. Laurin and Mulder were
not initially told where they were headed or what kind of drug was
involved.

The trio first travelled from Winnipeg to Souris, where they stole a
snowmobile Morneau allegedly used to bring the drugs into the U.S.
without being detected by border guards.

Laurin and Mulder legally entered the country and allegedly met up
with Morneau in Bismark, North Dakota, before carrying on south to
Montana in Mulder's 2003 Volkswagen Golf.

Their journey was intercepted in eastern Montana by a state trooper
who pulled over their vehicle on an Interstate highway for having a
burned-out headlight.

Police have indicated in court documents suspicious behaviour and
inconsistent statements given by the three accused led them to search
the vehicle and find three duffel bags containing about 68 kilograms
of the drug.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull rejected a motion from
the accused to dismiss the case on the grounds their rights had been
violated.

Defence lawyers argued items seized from the car were "inadmissible
findings of an illegal search" that was unconstitutional. However,
District Attorney James Seykora successfully argued conflicting
statements given by the men to police caused the trooper's doubt to
grow and that he simply took the required time to "ferret out his
suspicions."

During the traffic stop, Laurin told police he and Mulder were on
their way to visit a friend of Mulder's in Billings whom he had never
met and couldn't name. He also claimed Morneau was a stranger they had
picked up hitchhiking near a truck stop in Minot, North Dakota.

Morneau allegedly gave police the bogus name of Cliff Aymont. He told
the officer his snowmobile had broken down in North Dakota and that he
had hitched a ride from Mulder and Laurin. He admitted to bringing
three bags along with him -- but said he had no idea what was inside
of them.

Morneau eventually owned up to his real name and allegedly told police
he was to be paid $5,000 to transport the bags into the U.S., and that
Laurin and Mulder would each be paid $1,000 for their part in the scheme.

*SIDEBAR*

Morneau speaks out

Tim Morneau isn't going down without a fight.

In a handwritten letter sent to the Free Press last month from his
Montana prison cell, Morneau claims much of what has been said and
written about him are "lies."

"At least I know the truth about what happened and what is going on,"
he said, without elaborating further.

Morneau denied having any ties to the Hells Angels, despite what
sources have previously told the Free Press. "I'm not associated with
any club or gang," he said.