CITY HUB FOR DRUG

Ring Shipped Out to Secret Labs

Manitoba was the hub of an international smuggling network that
shipped ephedrine -- a main ingredient in the illegal drug
methamphetamine -- to secret labs in western Canada and the United
States, RCMP say. In a series of 34 cross-Canada raids early Wednesday
morning, police charged 17 Canadians -- including 10 Manitobans -- and
seized more than 20,000 pounds of ephedrine worth $14.5 million along
with $3.5 million in cash.

"This is a very major seizure. It's our belief that this was one of
the major distribution networks in Canada, if not all of North
America," said Insp. Dennis McGuffin, federal policing officer for
Manitoba. "We believe Manitoba was the centre to this ephedrine
distribution network."

The network's starting point was Pumpuii Energy Products, a company in
Thunder Bay that has been selling bodybuilding supplements since 1984.

From there, the ephedrine was funneled to Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet and
Hanna, Alta., where it was repackaged and then shipped to criminal
groups in Vancouver, Buffalo, N.Y., and Sacramento, Calif., where it
was believed to be manufactured into crystal meth in clandestine labs,
RCMP said.

Money circulated through all points, including Miami.

The seized ephedrine was enough to manufacture $100 million worth of
meth, an illegal and highly addictive stimulant.

"There's a lot of money to be made," said Jim Loring, a special agent
with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). "The mark-up is
incredible."

Police wouldn't discuss what crime groups were involved in the
network, but at least three of the men arrested Wednesday have links
to the Hells Angels.

The investigation began with intelligence-gathering in 2002 and
evolved into Operation Diversion in January 2004. It involved six
police agencies on both sides of the border.

During the investigation, information was discovered that sparked an
unrelated investigation of Winnipeg police Const. Bruce Huynen,
confirmed Deputy Chief Menno Zacharias. Huynen was arrested and
charged on Wednesday morning -- just as the ephedrine raids were executed.

Sources say Huynen is accused of communicating with at least one of
the men arrested in connection with the illegal network.

Former Bombers Lineman

Among those charged with conspiracy to produce meth are former
Winnipeg Blue Bombers lineman Robert Edward Blake, local bodybuilder
Dave Sokalski and Rodger Patrick Bruneau, who owns Trans-Canada Fitness.

Bruneau's 19-year-old son and 45-year-old brother were charged with
similar offences.

Boxer Mark Newton, also known as Mathias (Mad Dog) Hughes -- the man
who beat Bomber kicker Troy Westwood in a boxing match three years
ago, faces weapons charges.

Several of those charged in the bust appeared in drug court yesterday.
Emmanuel Barbagianis, Blake, Donald Sacino (Pumpuii president) and
Sokalski were all remanded, but Mei Fun Chan, Nicholas Chyzy and
Aubrey Bruneau were all granted bail on recognizances of $10,000 and
sureties of equal or greater values.