BIG ALBERTA COCAINE-TRAFFICKING CASE DIES

EDMONTON -- A major case involving 19 members of an alleged
cocaine-trafficking ring collapsed under its own weight yesterday.

The case was so unwieldy the Crown conceded it could not bring it to
trial in a reasonable amount of time, as guaranteed in the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.

The investigation originally netted about three dozen suspects. Along
the way, charges were dropped against several of them and officials
split the case into two prosecutions in an effort to simplify
proceedings.

Even so, the Department of Justice said it finally had no choice but
to pull the plug on both.

"We have to give priority and abide by the right of an accused to have
their trial within a reasonable time," said Wes Smart, the federal
department's director of prosecutions on the Prairies.

The Crown was also unable to fulfil its obligation to disclose
mountains of evidence to the defence in a timely fashion, and the case
was not well co-ordinated with police, officials said. Later
yesterday, federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said his department
will draft amendments that will cut paperwork by clarifying what core
information should be given to the defence.

The case has cost the public an estimated $33 million and the price
tag will grow as more bills come in.

Four years ago, a mega-trial in Winnipeg involving 35 alleged members
of the Manitoba Warriors street gang also collapsed.