STOLEN BOATS GO FOR POT

Victoria police are warning waterfront homeowners to be on the lookout for
suspicious activity following a rash of boat thefts believed to be related
to cross-border drug-smuggling.

Victoria police chief Paul Battershill said Monday there were "two or
three" pleasure boats stolen last week for the purpose of running loads of
marijuana to various points in the United States.

"People are stealing these boats to run marijuana down to the states,"
Battershill said. "When the Americans recover them down there they are
empty except for green particles of vegetation on the floor."