METH RAIDS REVEAL ALBERTA CONNECTION

Edmonton streets could have taken a heavier methamphetamine hit if not for
a massive smuggling network bust - with Alberta ties - that had its hub in
Manitoba, say RCMP. "That drug itself could've ended up back on the streets
of Edmonton or the streets of Calgary," RCMP K-Division spokesman Wayne
Oakes said yesterday. "This is the largest operation and seizure of its
kind in Alberta and Canada."

In a series of 34 cross-Canada raids Wednesday morning, police charged 17
Canadians - including a Hanna man - and seized more than 20,000 pounds of
ephedrine, a main ingredient in methamphetamine, worth $14.5 million along
with $3.5 million in cash.

"It's our belief 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 funnelled to Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet and
Hanna, repackaged and then shipped to criminal groups in Vancouver,
Buffalo, N.Y., and Sacramento, California, where it is believed to have
been manufactured into crystal meth in secret labs, RCMP said.

On Wednesday, investigators raided a car-restoration business in Hanna
where they seized 110 pounds of ephedrine, along with 13 containers, said
RCMP. A man from Hanna was arrested in Manitoba on Wednesday.

In all, the seized ephedrine was enough to manufacture $100-million worth
of meth. Police wouldn't discuss what crime groups were involved, but at
least three of the men arrested Wednesday have links to the Hells Angels.

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

Aubrey Bruneau, 44, of Hanna, has been charged with outstanding offences,
including two counts of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine, along with
two counts of exporting a controlled substance.