MARIJUANA SEIZED IN TURNPIKE DRUG BUST

Bond Set At $750K For B.C. Brothers

Two Canadian brothers are to appear in Maumee Municipal Court again today
after Ohio Highway Patrol troopers allegedly caught them on the turnpike
with 352 pounds of a potent marijuana authorities estimate is worth $16
million.

Arseni Mamontov, 25, was arraigned yesterday on felony charges of
aggravated drug trafficking and drug abuse. His brother, Boris, 23, was
charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs and drug abuse. The two Vancouver
men, who also face traffic charges, were ordered held in the Lucas County
jail in lieu of $750,000 bond each.

A court spokesman said they are expected to return to court today so it
could be determined whether they would be represented by private counsel or
court-appointed attorneys.

Troopers said the marijuana seized was from a highly potent type grown in
British Columbia and known as "B.C. bud." They said the level of potency is
so much above that of other marijuana that it is traded on the street - and
sold for the same prices - as cocaine.

"That is what the industry is saying. [B.C. bud and cocaine] have been
traded equally," said Lt. Rick Fambro, a patrol spokesman in Columbus.

"You can trade the British Columbia marijuana for cocaine," confirmed Vern
Dunn, resident agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency
office in Toledo.

As a result, troopers used the going rate for cocaine of $2,841 an ounce,
or nearly $45,500 a pound, to estimate the street value of the marijuana at
$16 million. Here's how they did the math:

Cocaine is valued at $100 a gram on the street and a kilo equals 1,000
grams, so a kilo of cocaine is worth $100,000. The 352 pounds of seized
marijuana, divided by 2.2 pounds (a kilo), represents 160 kilos. At
$100,000 a kilo, the 160 kilos of marijuana would be worth $16 million.

B.C. bud has been available for several years, but it has only been found
in Ohio within the last few years as its distribution is spreading
throughout the country, authorities said.

A year ago, the patrol seized about 165 pounds of B.C. bud on the turnpike
and placed its value at only $750,000. In May, the patrol seized 60 pounds
of the potent marijuana during a traffic stop on I-280 in Wood County and
reported its worth at $300,000.

Sgt. Robin Schmutz, another patrol spokesman in Columbus, said troopers
grossly underestimated the value of the B.C. bud seized in those earlier
stops "because it was still really, really new" in Ohio. Criminal patrol
officials have since attended a conference on the B.C. bud trade in Canada,
where they learned its value is "equivalent to cocaine," she said.

"It's a higher grade of marijuana, and that's one of the big things with
it," Sgt. Schmutz said. "It's the economic theory of supply and demand."

On Tuesday, troopers said they stopped an eastbound 2002 GMC Astro minivan
driven by Aresni Mamontov about 2:30 p.m. west of the Reynolds Road exit
for following too closely. Boris Mamontov was driving a 1999 Ford Windstar
minivan when he was stopped for a marked lane violation.

A drug dog alerted troopers to the Astro minivan, where the 352 pounds of
marijuana was discovered. If convicted, the brothers each could face up to
eight years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, the patrol said.