WIRETAP EVIDENCE CHALLENGED

A constitutional challenge of wiretap evidence from what is perhaps the
largest such investigation in Canadian history is underway in Red Deer court.

The challenge is part of a case that has been described as "the largest
gang prosecution in Canada."

The accused were charged along with 13 other people in police raids in Red
Deer on Sept. 24, 1999.

Several people charged in Red Deer and Edmonton were suspected of being
members of an organized crime ring.

The case involved construction of a super courtroom in Edmonton and cost
several million dollars in legal expenses.

Forty-two people were charged in Edmonton but many were acquitted after
courts ruled that their rights had been violated by the Crown's failure to
disclose all of the voluminous material. The evidence covered hundreds of
thousands of pages.

The wiretap portion of the evidence recorded more than 281,000 calls in an
eight-month period or an average of 1,100 calls per day for drugs and deals
alleged to involve the Edmonton gang and its Red Deer arm.

The Red Deer portion of the trial is the only segment remaining and
involves the trial of two men charged with numerous drug offences five
years ago in Red Deer.

The trial of Hai Thanh Le, 29, and Xuan Vinh Dang, 32, has been bogged down
in defence motions alleging that they weren't afforded a timely trial and
had their Charter of Rights and Freedoms violated.

However, Justice Douglas Sirrs ruled six weeks ago that the men's right to
a timely trial wasn't violated.

Both face charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession of
cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled
substance for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking in a controlled
substance.

The Crown obtained 11 convictions in Red Deer.

Kevin Sproule of Red Deer represents Le and Barinder Pannu of Edmonton acts
for Dang.