$8M DRUG BUST AT PEARSON

A YOUNG Spanish couple have been nabbed at Pearson airport in what
police describe as their largest heroin bust in years. "This is the
largest heroin seizure we've had in my five years here," said RCMP
Sgt. Joe McAllister. "We haven't seen this much heroin in a long time."

McAllister said 20 kilos of heroin, worth about $8 million, was seized
by police and customs officers last Friday from a couple arriving from
Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He said the shipment is their third heroin seizure in three weeks and
officers are still working to extract the dope from the suitcase.

He said the dope was sewn into clothing and false sides of a
suitcase.

Sewn Into Clothing

The Mounties are working with Interpol and Spanish police to get
background information on the suspects. "We are in touch with our
partners overseas," he said.

Security officials are trying to determine if the heroin originated in
Afghanistan, where al-Qaida and former Taliban officials control the
vast poppy fields.

The dope is smuggled here by terrorist sympathizers for resale to
obtain funds for them to carry on their work, Interpol officials said.

Manuel Martin-Guerrero, 25, and Maria Teresa Arana-Damota, 24, of
Spain, have been charged with importing a controlled substance.

They were ordered detained at a bail hearing in Brampton court because
they're not Canadian citizens and may flee.

If convicted, they'll likely be deported once they've served their
sentences here, police said.