DRUG SEIZURE SPEED TAKES A BITE OUT OF BORDER CRIME

He's cute, he's fit, and his nose is a force for the force.

Speed, one of four drug-sniffing dogs that work at Pacific Highway border
crossing, has proven that time and again during his seven years of service.

And though he's near retirement, the pup's knack for sniffing out all
things narcotic is still sharp.

Last month, Speed was credited with two of three major cocaine busts at
Pacific Highway crossing.

June 11, he led his handler, Mike Hepner, to 28.3 kg of cocaine in a duffle
bag in a northbound mini van.

That lead RCMP's Integrated Border Enforcement Team to charge siblings
Aracely Dayana Corea of Vancouver and Yader Manuel Corea Martinez of
Burnaby with unlawfully importing cocaine into Canada and possession of
cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Next, Speed alerted officers to 37.8 kg of cocaine stashed in the floor and
side panels of an SUV coming into Canada June 14.

Aguilar Walther Orellana of Vancouver and Tyrone Justin Lafrenier of Port
Coquitlam now face charges of importing and possession for the purpose of
trafficking.

Hepner said Wednesday that brings Speed's record of "decent-sized narcotic
seizures" to more than 250. He figures the lab has helped keep 200 kg of
drugs off the streets, from marijuana to PCP to heroin.

In both the latest seizures, Speed scented the dope from outside the
vehicles. It takes him less than 30 seconds to pinpoint a source. In a
third bust last month, this one June 2, Customs officers noted
discrepancies in paperwork for a commercial truck driver. They found 72.9
kg of cocaine hidden behind pallets of boxed wine being shipped from
Berkeley, Calif.

The truck driver was released, and no charges have been laid. IBET's Const.
Alex Borden said that investigation is ongoing. Borden said investigators
have not linked the three seizures, but are "keeping open minds."

There's no doubt organized crime is behind them, he said.

Cpl. Scott Rintoul, of RCMP's drug section, said research into drug trends
show a decrease in cocaine production and trafficking, to it's lowest point
since 1985.

"And yet, there's still a demand," he said.

"Law enforcement alone will not solve this problem. Seizures like this are
unfortunately going to continue until we deal with the demand side."