DRUG TRAIL LED RCMP TO LIBERAL STAFFERS

VANCOUVER; VICTORIA -- The RCMP raided two ministerial offices in the
B.C. Legislature as a result of information gathered during a 20-month
investigation into massive drug deals involving an exchange of B.C.
marijuana for U.S. cocaine, police say.

The Mounties and Victoria police arrested nine people earlier this
month who were alleged to be part of an organized-crime ring dealing
in drugs, RCMP Sergeant John Ward said yesterday.

Three were from Toronto and the rest were from Vancouver and
Victoria.

In the course of their investigation, police discovered information of
possible criminal activity touching on aides of top ministers in the
British Columbia cabinet, Sgt. Ward said.

The new information, combined with information directly linked to the
investigation of the organized-crime and drug ring, was enough to
justify a search of the legislative offices, he said.

The two ministerial aides at the centre of the controversy are David
Basi, a ministerial assistant and friend of Finance Minister Gary
Collins, and Robert Virk, a ministerial assistant to Transportation
Minister Judith Reid. As assistants, their offices are part of the
ministerial suite of offices in the legislature.

Mr. Basi's appointment was rescinded shortly after the raid. Mr. Virk
was suspended with pay.

Mr. Basi has worked for the provincial government for several years,
but is better known in political circles for his work as an organizer
in B.C. for Paul Martin during the leadership campaign.

Mr. Virk, a friend of Mr. Basi, worked for the B.C. Liberal Party
before it formed the government in 2001 and then took an appointment
as a ministerial assistant.

Mr. Basi, in a statement distributed to Victoria media yesterday, said
he has done nothing wrong.

In Victoria, Mr. Collins said that he supported the firing of his
ministerial assistant.

Sgt. Ward repeatedly said he could not comment on the raids at the
legislature, which are part of a continuing investigation. Police
raids were also carried out at Mr. Basi's home, an accounting firm in
Victoria and a government lobbying firm called Pilot House Public
Affairs Group Inc.

The ministers were not the target of the investigation, Sgt. Ward
said.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who is on vacation outside the country,
told reporters in a phone call that he did not plan to return home
early to deal with the crisis. A special prosecutor has been available
to assist police investigators since Dec. 11, the Attorney-General's
Ministry said yesterday.

The special prosecutor, Vancouver lawyer William Berardino, will
decide whether charges will be laid and will conduct the prosecution
if the charges go to court, ministry spokesman Geoff Gaul said.

Sgt. Ward said the police work revealed the growing problems for
society associated with the illegal drug trade and organized crime.

The illegal drug trade in B.C., which he estimated at $6-billion, is
at "critical mass," Sgt. Ward said.

Victoria Police Chief Paul Battershill said a B.C. Supreme Court judge
approved the search warrants for the legislature and the Speaker of
the House gave the go-ahead Saturday night. About 20 Victoria police
officers helped with Sunday's raid.

The boxes containing seized documents have been sealed, and any
documents deemed privileged B.C. cabinet papers will be respected,
Chief Battershill said.