Pubdate: Fri, 03 Mar 2000
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2000 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  2615 12 Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 7W9
Fax: (403) 250-4180
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySun/
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Author: Mike D'Amour

HOME SWEET HOME

City Mom Falsely Accused In Bermuda Drug Case

A dream trip to a heavenly resort became a nine-month nightmare behind
bars in a Bermuda jail for a Calgary mom falsely accused of importing
cocaine into the island country.

"I am just grateful to be home and grateful to my friends who gave me
their support while I was there," Paula Madill told the Sun yesterday.

Madill, 34, had just quit her waitressing job last summer when she was
approached by a new acquaintance, Wayne Maximchuk, who offered to take
her on an exotic trip.

"He asked if I'd like to go to Jamaica, then Bermuda, with him,"
recalled Madill, the single mom of an eight-year-old girl.

"But had I known he had $150,000 worth of cocaine in his belly, I
would have had nothing to do with him."

After briefly stopping in Jamaica, the couple arrived in Hamilton,
Bermuda, on June 29.

They checked into the hotel and while Madill was sunbathing by the
pool, Bermuda cops stormed the room where they found Maximchuk sitting
on the bed -- and thousands of dollars worth of cocaine under it.

After being questioned for more than an hour at the hotel, the couple
was taken to a local hospital and forced to drink a quantity of laxative.

"I spent most of the 24 hours proving to police I had no drugs -- I
went to the bathroom 17 times in 10 hours and even had X-rays" she
said, noting no drugs were found on her.

The next thing Madill knew, she was in Hamilton remand, charged with
possession of cocaine with intent to supply and conspiring to import
it into the country.

In all, Maximchuk, 44, had swallowed 78 packets of coke to transport
and then sell in Bermuda.

He admitted in court he had brought drugs into Bermuda before and, in
January, was sentenced to 71/2 years.

Citing contradictory police evidence, the judge threw the case against
Madill out of court last month. 
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