Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2000
Source: Richmond Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2000 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  Unit 140 5671 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C.
Fax: (604) 606-8752
Website: http://www.rpl.richmond.bc.ca/community/RichmondReview/
Author:  Martin van den Hemel

MILITARY VEHICLE RECORDS SCOURED FOR CLUES

Investigators are carefully combing through vehicle maintenance records to 
see whether the reserve sergeant accused of trying to smuggle 100 kilograms 
of marijuana into the United States may have done so before.

Capt. Bob Lanouette, of the National Investigative Services, said the 
investigation is focussing on whether Sgt. Sten Sture Strom, 36, may have 
used military vehicles in the past, perhaps for the same purpose. Strom, a 
reservist from the local 12th Service Battalion, was among five Canadians 
and two Americans who were arrested and charged Saturday in connection with 
an alleged conspiracy to import about $1 million worth of marijuana through 
the Pacific Highway border crossing.

Strom and his co-accused-Canadians Robert Laurin, Wesley Antholz, Brent 
Rusnak and Yoshi Yamada, and Americans Roderick Brennan and Erin Harms-were 
scheduled to appear in Seattle federal court on Thursday, after The 
Review's deadline, for a bail hearing.

U.S. Customs special agent-in-charge Chuck McLeod said several factors will 
be considered in determining whether to grant bail to the accused, 
including whether they have strong ties to the community, are considered a 
flight risk, and are able to come back to the United States.

American investigators are looking into whether this is the first time 
Canadian military vehicles were used to smuggle dope. Several criminal 
investigators in Blaine and Seattle are working on the case. In Canada, 
both military and police officials are looking into the matter.

"We're trying to determine whether this has happened before," Lanouette 
told The Review Wednesday morning. This appears to be the first time that a 
Canadian military vehicle has been used to traffic narcotics.

Lanouette pointed out that a reservist can't simply grab a set of keys for 
a military vehicle, jump in and drive it out of the parking lot at No. 4 
Road and Alderbridge Way.

There is a set of procedures that needs to be followed, including a 
requirement that a travel ticket or working ticket be obtained.

"It's all a controlled protocol," with checks and balances, he said.

Whenever a vehicle is used, a log book is maintained by the driver. Among 
the facts recorded are the mileage reading on the vehicle's odometer. If a 
vehicle is being used for non-permitted purposes, it may be possible to 
look for anomalies or inconsistencies in the mileage readings.

Since the two vehicles that were seized by U.S. Customs officers could be 
accessed by between 50 and 100 people who are qualified to drive them. The 
two vehicles were a light truck used as an operations command-post and a 
10-tonne vehicle used to tow military vehicles that have broken down.

In addition to facing charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, Strom is 
also subject to charges under the National Defence Act.
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