WOMEN CHARGED AFTER POLICE SEIZE $2M IN DRUGS

MORRISTOWN - Two women are in custody after being found in possession
of Ecstasy and marijuana that authorities say is worth more than $2
million.

Heather Clement-Shenandoah, 31, St. Paul, Minn., and Hai Thi Nguyen,
49, Vancouver, British Columbia, were arrested on federal charges of
conspiracy to distribute drugs following a nightlong investigation
that began when they stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint at
Routes 37 and 12 in the town of Morristown about 9 p.m.

"They started with an illegal alien and then found all these drugs,"
St. Lawrence County Sheriff Gary J. Jarvis said.

Although they do not know the women's final destination, authorities
believe they crossed the St. Lawrence River in a high-powered
speedboat that was found by St. Regis tribal police in Snye, Quebec,
Mr. Jarvis said. Ms. Shenandoah is alleged to have used the craft to
smuggle Ms. Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, and the drugs into the U.S.
he said.

The aging Chevrolet van the women were in was found to contain about
60,000 Ecstasy tablets and 116 pounds of marijuana.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration told me the pills were worth $1.8
million, and you got probably another $400,000 in marijuana," Mr.
Jarvis said.

They were in something like big, long hockey bags. That's what the
marijuana was in. The pills were in a smaller bag," the sheriff said.

The pills and marijuana were confiscated, as was the speedboat and
nearly new, 225 hp motor that powered it. The identity of the boat's
owner is under investigation.

The women were taken to Syracuse and placed in federal custody
following arraignment in U.S. District Court, Mr. Jarvis said.

Authorities are still trying to determine where the women were going,
Mr. Jarvis said.

"All we know is they were headed for Syracuse. Beyond that, we don't
know," the sheriff said.