POLICE WANT EYES ON SUSPICIOUS PLANES

Local Rcmp Officials Are Asking People To Keep An Eye On The
Sky.

RCMP Const. Steve Hiscoe says local individuals, ranging from pilots
and other airport staff, as well as Chilliwack residents, may be in
the best strategic position to witness illegal activities.

It's all part of a crime prevention program called Coastal Airport
Watch and provincial organizers are asking locals to watch out for
suspicious activities around airports and the estimated 650 airstrips
across the province.

"As far I know, we don't have a problem here, but we are in very close
proximity to the U.S. border," Const. Hiscoe says. "We could
conceivably have airplanes dropping off marijuana or other contraband
items on the U.S. side, for example, instead of people illegally
crossing over on foot."

He remembers a high-profile incident recently where border officials
arrested two people who landed an airplane in Langley, after getting a
tip called in.

"Civil aircraft are increasingly being used in situations ranging from
threats to national security to illegal drug trafficking," confirms
Coastal Airport Watch coordinator Const. Terrance Trytten, who works
out of Vancouver headquarters' drug enforcement branch.

He estimates at least 10 police investigations resulted from tips they
received so far from the aviation public across B.C. The program began
across Canada in 1987 and has been operating in B.C. for about three
years.

"Due to the relative small size of civil aircraft and their
versatility, they can be very difficult for law enforcement to
intercept," Const. Trytten says. "(Stopping) smuggling is a difficult
task, with no easy solution. But with concerted effort by police and
with the cooperation of the aviation community, we expect to reduce
the incidence of (illegal) importation and exportation in B.C."

The Airport Watch official says they're only too happy to give people
clues of what to look for.

"Quite often smugglers will be evasive if asked questions and not
particularly friendly to airport staff," he offers. "The fact is,
we're uncovering intelligence about small aircraft wherever we promote
this program."

One tell-tale sign is suspicious takeoffs and landings, he
advises.

"Low flying aircraft travelling north and south across the border,
either early morning or evening, may be an indicator of smuggling
activity," Const. Trytten says.

There's a significant amount of traffic in and out of Chilliwack so
they could fit in without being noticed, possibly more so than on some
of the other quieter airfields."

Chilliwack Airport manager Ed Wilkins says he fields at least a couple
of calls every month from residents who want to report suspicious
low-flying aircraft, usually flying over Columbia Valley.

"Then we pass on that information to police," he says. "We also get a
number of calls from various police agencies asking us to call them if
we see a craft with certain tail numbers."

The local facility is known as uncontrolled airport, featuring 24-hour
refuelling options with a Card Lock-type payment system. "The airport
is only manned 10 to 12 hours per day," says Mr. Wilkins. "That
presents a challenge but Chilliwack is just one of many communities in
B.C. in a situation like this."

Const. Trytten confirms this, adding that smugglers can sometimes come
and go undetected with 24-hour refuelling availability.

"It's quite likely there has been illegal activity involving
contraband smuggling near Chilliwack," he says. "Almost every other
airport in Lower Mainland has been hit."

Three Airport Watch signs went up at the Chilliwack Airport in recent
months to give people a number to call if they witness any suspicious
activities.

About 60 to 70 per cent of the local airport users are involved in
training exercises or recreational flying activities, he says.

"The only role we play in the Airport Watch program is as observers of
the comings and goings at the airport," Mr. Wilkins says. That being
said, he says there is significant potential for the program to cut
down on some of the smuggling activity going on.

"Probably it's the only way to go about tackling smuggling
effectively, without dispatching more personnel," he adds.

To find out more go to www.rcmpgrc.gc.ca/bc/caw or call 1.888.855.6655