QUEBEC POLICE ARREST BIKERS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

GRANBY, QUE. (CP)-- More than 40 bikers were arrested yesterday in Quebec's
Eastern Townships on charges of drug trafficking to the United States.

About 225 police officers were involved in the arrests of Quebeckers
suspected of being affiliated with the Hells Angels. Additional arrests
were made in the United States.

Over the past 18 months, police have intercepted about 500 kilograms of
cannabis grown in hydroponic labs or isolated farmland and destined for the
U.S. black market.

Canadian, provincial and police in Granby, Sherbrooke and Cowansville
collaborated.

In a separate bust yesterday, police in British Columbia said they had
broken up an international organized crime ring that trafficked in
marijuana and produced counterfeit credit cards.

They seized hundreds of kilograms of pot, thousands of fake credit cards
and the equipment to make the cards.

Police say the value of the credit cards is more than $200-million dollars.
Arrest warrants have been issued for 12 people, members of the so-called
Big Circle Boys.