TUNNEL USED TO SMUGGLE BUD

The first tunnel ever discovered to breach the Canada/U.S. border has
been uncovered in Aldergrove.

The discovery is being called a matter of national security by both
Canadian and American officials, who worked together to shut down the
tunnel.

The underground passageway, which was ventilated and equipped with
electricity, was being used to smuggle dope. It was found just east of
the 264th Street border crossing, and after weeks of surveillance, was
shut down on Wednesday.

Three Surrey men have been arrested and are facing charges of
conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana.

"They were smart enough to build a sophisticated tunnel, but not smart
enough not to get caught," said U.S. Attorney John McKay from the U.S.
Department of Justice.

The suspects - Francis Devandra Raj, 30, Timothy Woo, 34, and
Johnathan Valenzuela, 27 - were to appear in U.S. District Court in
Seattle on Thursday afternoon.

They were arrested on the American side of the tunnel. Two hundred
pounds of marijuana were seized during the investigation.

The discovery of the 360-foot tunnel, which connected a property in
the 26800-block of Zero Avenue in Langley to a home at 151 East
Boundary Rd. in Lynden, Wash., has attracted international attention,
and is fuelling calls for more security at the Aldergrove border.

"The tunnel that crosses the border is a significant threat to both
Canadian and U.S. national security," said Leigh Winchell, Special
Agent in Charge of the Seattle Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Office of Investigations.

The tunnel was built to smuggle drugs, but could easily have been used
to move illegal aliens or equipment that could pose a threat to either
country, Winchell said during a press conference held by U.S. and
Canadian law enforcement officers at the Aldergrove border crossing
Thursday morning.

While a number of tunnels have been found between the U.S. and Mexico
over the years, this is the first to be found breaching the U.S.'s
northern border.

"We recognize the impact this represents," said Insp. Pat Fogarty,
team leader with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit-B.C.

Canada's Border Services Agency became aware of the tunnel's possible
construction and alerted the CFSEU, which is made up of municipal
police, RCMP and the Organized Crime Agency, in February. Canadian and
American law enforcement organizations then teamed up to monitor and
shut down the tunnel, with co-operation that McKay said was
"absolutely superb."

"This is an example of Canada and the U.S. working together to combat
organized crime," said Fogarty.

The investigation tracked the progress of the tunnel over several
months.

Using shovels, a winch, and carting system to remove the dirt, the
suspects dug out the tunnel and re-enforced the walls with concrete,
metal rebar, and 1,000 two-by-six wood supports. On July 2, cameras
and listening devices were installed and the suspects were seen
carrying large bags through the tunnel. The bags were loaded into a
van on the U.S. side and driven south.

No weapons were ever brought through, officials said.

The tunnel will be destroyed.

[Langley Advance News]