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News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Authorities On Alert For Other Tunnels Under Border
Title:CN BC: Authorities On Alert For Other Tunnels Under Border
Published On:2005-07-27
Source:Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Fetched On:2008-01-15 22:58:46
AUTHORITIES ON ALERT FOR OTHER TUNNELS UNDER BORDER

Police Looking For More Underground Smuggling

The discovery of a sophisticated tunnel used to smuggle marijuana and
ecstasy under the Canada-U.S. border in Aldergrove has authorities on the
alert for other underground smuggling schemes.

Jeff Eig, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in
Seattle, said there is a possibility that more than one tunnel exists or is
being planned.

"As border security tightens, drug traffickers will have to resort to more
creative measures," Eig told The Leader.

However, Eig downplayed the possibility there could be as many drug tunnels
along the Canada-U.S. border as the 33 recently discovered along the U.S.
border with Mexico.

"One tunnel doesn't make a trend," Eig said.

Three Surrey men were arrested last Wednesday by American authorities as
they emerged from a 110-metre long tunnel between Canada and the U.S.

Charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana are Francis
Devandra Raj, 30, Timothy Woo, 34, and Jonathan Valenzuela, 27, all of Surrey.

The three men appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle Thursday afternoon
and remain in custody.

Police said the tunnel was dug by hand by the three men over an eight-month
period, close to the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing. The tunnel ceiling
and walls were braced with metre-long 2"x6"s. It was also ventilated and
wired for electric lights.

Criminals who used the tunnel would be charged $500 a pound to ship pot or
ecstasy into the U.S. and the tunnel operators allegedly said they could
move 300 lbs. (138 kg) at a time.

Francis Devandra Raj was the listed owner of the Canadian property where
the tunnel started inside an old hut, and American authorities are
investigating the purchase of the vacant U.S. farmhouse where the tunnel
exited by Whatcom County couple Raman L. Patel and Kusum B. Patel in July
of 2003 .

DEA special agent Rod Benson said there was a "significant criminal
organization" behind the tunnelling effort.
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