Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Michelle Mark, Calgary Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

$20M HAUL IN DRUGS UNCOVERED

A truckload of drugs worth nearly $20 million -- possibly the largest haul 
of drugs in Alberta history -- was brought to a grinding halt by Calgary 
police.

Members of the city police drug and truck units seized the semi-trailer 
loaded with cocaine and marijuana Saturday, after the truck was searched at 
a truck weigh scale just west of the city on the Trans-Canada Hwy.

The highway is known as a major drug transport route between Canada and the 
U.S., and the duffel bags holding the huge quantities of dope were labelled 
with names of eastern cities, including Toronto and Boston.

"We can't speculate on the number of times, but it's the most common route 
to get from west to east," Staff Sgt. Roger Chaffin of the CPS Drug Unit 
said yesterday.

"It comes right through our city, and this is a good indicator of just the 
volume of drugs that can be moved in Canada."

Police said more than 187 kg of cocaine, with an estimated wholesale value 
of $8.8 million, and 1,300 kg of marijuana, with an estimated wholesale 
value of $10 million, were seized from the semi-trailer.

Police noticed something suspicious about the truck as it pulled into the 
weigh scale, but wouldn't comment on what tipped them off.

The drugs were packed into 69 duffel bags inside the trailer, which was 
also carrying various dry goods.

In total, 10 palettes of duffel bags, stacked from the floor to the ceiling 
of the semi-trailer, were seized by police.

The drugs were tightly sealed and didn't emit any odour despite the large 
volume.

The driver and a passenger in the semi-trailer were questioned by police 
and released, after it was determined they had no knowledge of the cargo.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jackl