ONTARIO TRUCKER ACCUSED OF BRINGING 200 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA INTO U.S.

COLLINS LANDING - A Canadian trucker entering the United States on
Wellesley Island early Monday with a load of small plastic balls for
recycling was also carrying 200 pounds of "British Columbia bud"
marijuana, according to state police and federal authorities.

The illegal product, contained in five boxes, has a street value of
$250,000 to $750,000, sources said, depending on where it was going to
be marketed.

The trucker, Kimberly Thomas Wallis, 44, Wyevale, Ontario, was
detained Monday night in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building,
Watertown, and was transferred Tuesday morning by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement to Syracuse. A federal grand jury in Syracuse
indicted him Tuesday on a charge of smuggling a dangerous drug into
the country, according to Michael W. Gilhooly, Burlington, Vt.,
spokesman for Immigration and Customs.

Officials with the U.S. attorney's office in Syracuse could not be
reached Tuesday for information about the indictment or Mr. Wallis's
afternoon arraignment

Canadian authorities were notified about the arrest, and were reported
by state police to be questioning possible accomplices. The
investigation "remains very active," Mr. Gilhooly said.

Mr. Wallis claimed not to know anything about the hidden cargo, police
said.

Mr. Gilhooly credited a "very alert" Customs officer with initiating
the investigation. State police Investigator Mary E. Clark added that
a large detection device used on trucks helped the officer observe
that there might be concealed cargo.

The rig, bearing Ontario registration and owned by Highland Transport,
was impounded for investigation. The truck company is cooperating in
the investigation, Mr. Gilhooly said.

Police said the truck entered the port of entry about 12:30 a.m., and
was delayed for a "secondary inspection." Trooper John J. Poggi 3rd
was dispatched with his dog, Tan, from the Alexandria Bay state police
substation, and the dog "alerted" investigators to a section in the
box trailer where the marijuana was hidden, police said.