Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Lindsay Kines Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) U.S. SEES WAVE OF POT HEADING TO BORDER Millions of dollars worth of B.C. marijuana have been seized since patrols in Juan de Fuca Strait were scaled back U.S. authorities have been busy in recent weeks catching Canadians allegedly smuggling B.C. bud by the boatload across Juan de Fuca Strait. Police speculate the rush to the border may stem from a recent U.S. government decision to lower the terror alert level to yellow from orange, which results in fewer patrols on the strait. "The bad guys probably know that, so they took advantage of it as it was downgraded and everybody came over at once," Capt. Ron Cameron of the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team said Wednesday. Police have seized more than 400 kilograms of marijuana in four incidents near Port Angeles in less than two weeks, he said. Police estimate the street value of the drugs at more than $2.7 million. Eight to 10 Canadians have been arrested. The seizures range in size from 25 kilograms to about 225 kilograms, and the suspects could face significant prison time if prosecuted at the federal level. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patty Lally said two Canadians charged after a seizure of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana this week could get five to 40 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The two were arrested after the U.S. Coast Guard noticed an inflatable boat approaching Pillar Point park, 55 kilometres west of Port Angeles, about 2:15 a.m. Monday. When the boat flashed its light, two vehicles at the boat launch flashed back, Lally said. The vehicles on shore departed when the coast guard turned on its lights. Later, investigators found an abandoned inflatable boat with six duffel bags strapped to the interior. The bags contained vacuum-sealed packs of marijuana, Lally said. Nearby, investigators found two survival suits. "So they knew that they had at least two occupants they were looking for," Lally said. Later that morning, undercover officers in an unmarked car picked up two men hitchhiking along the highway. One man was wearing neoprene chest-waders and black knee-high rubber boots. The other was wearing a one-piece fleece undergarment and wading boots. "They said, 'Take us anywhere, we've been walking for six hours,'" Lally said. "Not knowing that the driver and passenger of this vehicle were actually detectives, they told the detectives that they were Canadians who had been camping, but that all of their camping gear had been stolen. This explanation was highly suspicious, since all the camping grounds in the area had been closed for the winter season." The two men were arrested. They have a detention hearing in Seattle Friday. Earlier this month, three men were found in a disabled boat west of Port Angeles with two black hockey bags floating in the water nearby, Cameron states in court documents. The bags contained almost 30 kilograms of marijuana in sealed food-saver bags. The documents say the bags had stab marks, as if somebody had tried to sink them to destroy evidence. Cameron said subsequent interviews revealed the three men had left Sooke at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 10; they were picked up at 9:15 a.m. Cameron said Wednesday that it's "very unusual" to see this many cases in such a short period. But he suspects it happens all the time. The Washington coastline from Port Angeles to Neah Bay is as sparsely populated as the stretch from Victoria to Port Renfrew, Cameron said. "The farther west you go, except for a few burgs, it's pretty remote and it's real ripe for people like this to bring things across," he said. Police says the marijuana sells for about $3,000 a pound in Washington, but increases in price as it moves south. "By the time you get down to L.A., I understand it's up close to $5,000 a pound," Cameron said. "It's pretty high quality bud. We all know it's world famous, this B.C. bud. It's real sought-after in Southern California, because they're used to the Mexican stuff, which is grown outdoors and just doesn't have the kick." The recent cases have swamped Cameron's joint task force, which is headed by the Clallam County Sheriff's Department. "It's been a lot of fun for my guys, that's for sure," Cameron said. "And they're dragging, but they are having a ball." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin