AIRPORT OFFICIAL AMONG THOSE CHARGED POLICE SEIZE $36 MILLION IN CASH AND DRUGS

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) officials are worried their public
image will be tarnished by allegations one of their former airport officers
helped facilitate two massive drug smuggling rings.

The Mississauga woman, who was fired by the CCRA in the spring, faces
breach of trust charges after allegedly allowing drug carriers to bypass
inspection upon entry into Pearson International Airport when they gave her
a secret password.

"This is obviously very disappointing for the public and our customs
officers," said Customs spokesperson John McCormack. "But it should not
impugn the honesty and integrity of thousands of other customs officers."

McCormack said every employee at Canada Customs is subject to criminal
background checks, testing and interviews as part of the hiring process.

He said the agency's hiring and screening practices will not change as a
result of this incident.

Andrene Whitaker, 20, of Mississauga Valley Blvd., was arrested and charged
this week.

Undercover officers from Toronto, Peel, the Ontario Provincial Police, the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Customs spent the past several
months monitoring drug shipments from various parts of the Caribbean.

The investigation culminated with the arrest of nine people Thursday.
Warrants have been issued for six others.

Police seized $36 million worth of drugs and cash.

Three Mississauga men are charged with masterminding the smuggling
networks, which used high school students as drug mules to carry cocaine
and heroin from the Caribbean to Toronto and then employed friendly airport
staff to get it through security screening.

Rayon Santo, 33, of Constitution Blvd. and Vinroy Carnakie, 30, of
Hurontario St. are in custody facing laundering and drug charges.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Mark Anthony Allen of Frontier Ridge
in Mississauga.

Staff Inspector Dan Hayes, head of the Toronto police drug squad, said
investigators found that drug smugglers were using airport workers in
Trinidad to conceal narcotics in cargo containers on commercial flights to
Toronto.

He said the group also had people working for them at Pearson International
Airport to remove the drugs from the aircraft, then deliver them to members
of the criminal organization in Toronto.