DRUGS STOPPED AT BORDER

American authorities have intercepted more than 17 kilograms of
cocaine bound for Alberta at a Montana border crossing.

U. S. Customs and Border Protection said the drugs were in 14
plastic-wrapped bricks found last Friday, hidden in the ceiling of a
10-metre travel trailer that tried crossing into Canada at the Coutts
port of entry, 100 kilometres southeast of Lethbridge.

Canada Border Services Agency officers refused entry to the trailer
and a male driver hauling it on behalf of a commercial towing company
in California.

Officials on both sides of the border weren't clear on why the man was
turned back, but said it was likely because he lacked the proper
documentation to enter Canada with the trailer.

When the driver tried re-entering the U. S. through the Sweetgrass,
Mont., port, border officers performed a routine gamma-imaging scan of
the vehicles and found an anomaly in the ceiling of the trailer.
Officers opened the ceiling and found the drugs, which American
officials estimated were worth $650,000 US.

U. S. authorities seized the truck and trailer and took the man into
custody. The man was turned over to U. S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, but he was released.

"We have made no arrests," spokesman Tim Counts said.

ICE officials wouldn't disclose whether they believe the driver was
knowingly hauling the drugs or if the towing company in Riverside,
Calif., east of Los Angeles, is under suspicion.