INTERNATIONAL BORDER DRAWS ATTENTION OF POLICE DEP'T

Following the bust of a Point Roberts teenager accused of smuggling
pot across the border on a school bus run to Blaine, Delta police say
they are working closely with their U.S. counterparts.

But media liaison Const. Sharlene Brooks said this case is no
different from a variety of cross-border cases Delta police continue
to work on with the Americans.

"We obviously have heightened awareness at this time and we will
continue in this practice of exchanging information with U.S.
authorities," Brooks said, adding the department also works with the
RCMP's border integrity unit.

There have been several recent incidents involving pot smuggling along
the sleepy border that separates Tsawwassen and Point Roberts.

Last month, two plainclothes officers stopped a Washington state
vehicle with a 20-year-old and 17-year-old male inside as it exited
the Tim Hortons parking lot in Tsawwassen at 5 a.m.

Officers smelled a strong odour of marijuana and began to search the
vehicle. Brooks said they found 13 pounds of neatly package pot ready
for distribution, with an estimated street value of $32,000. They also
found $2,000 in cash.

The males, living in Point Roberts, were both arrested and are now
facing several drug related charges in Canada.

At the time, Brooks said it wasn't a stretch to think the pot may have
been destined for Point Roberts.

In the most recent incident, a female teenager was arrested Feb. 20
and taken into custody at the Peace Arch border crossing. The Grade 10
student is now facing several drug-related charges in the U.S.

Delta police have also reported several cross-border incidents
involving drugs, including customs officers detaining an individual in
possession of a prohibited weapon and marijuana on Feb. 21.

On Feb. 26, three males were discovered crossing the border at Point
Roberts into Canada illegally. U.S. Customs officials suspected the
men were smuggling drugs.