Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jun 2000
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.
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Author: Jake Rupert, Ottawa Citizen

CANADIAN ENVOY CHARGED WITH COCAINE SMUGGLING

First Case Of Its Kind

OTTAWA - The RCMP yesterday arrested a former administrative officer at the 
Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv, 3 1/2 years after Israeli police informed 
Canadian authorities that they suspected he was smuggling cocaine.

Douglas Wardle, 42, had known Canadian police were investigating his 
involvement with a ring responsible for bringing 8.5 kg of cocaine into 
Israel, but his lawyer says the arrest nonetheless surprised his client.

The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada because even 
though the alleged offence took place in another country, legal proceedings 
are being brought in this country. The Public Service Employment Act allows 
Canadian law to be applied to crimes committed by government employees in 
other countries.

Yesterday, Mr. Wardle "was just on his way to work like he does everyday, 
and the police appeared and informed him that he was under arrest," said 
his lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon.

Mr. Wardle, of Mississauga, was taken to a hastily arranged bail hearing. 
The Crown consented to his release on a number of conditions, including a 
$100,000 fine if bail was violated.

The charges of conspiracy to import, importing and trafficking narcotics 
come after a lengthy RCMP investigation, which involved gleaning 
information in Israel, New York City, Los Angeles and the Netherlands.

This investigation began when three Israeli men -- Meir Hazan, Yitzach 
Lerer, and Jacob Sterenhim -- were arrested in Tel Aviv in November, 1996. 
These men are now serving sentences ranging from 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 years.

Information from this investigation led police to the Canadian Embassy. 
Because of diplomatic immunity, Mr. Wardle wasn't arrested or charged 
there. Instead, RCMP began inquiries when he returned to Canada in 1996, 
where he remained on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International 
Trade payroll until his resignation in early 1998.

Court documents show Mr. Wardle allegedly twice left Israel without the 
knowledge of Canadian officials there and took planes to Los Angeles where 
the cocaine was allegedly picked up. One alleged shipment was 2.5 kg, the 
other 6 kg. From there, police claim Mr. Wardle flew to New York to the 
Netherlands and back to Tel Aviv with the drugs.

When the accusations were made against him, Mr. Wardle had amassed 20 years 
of foreign service. It was his second year of a three-year posting in Tel Aviv.
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