Pubdate: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Quesnel Cariboo Observer Contact: http://www.quesnelobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260 Author: Matt Wood Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) LANGLEY COPS BUST QUESNEL MAN A Quesnel man has been taken into police custody in Langley after 149 kilograms of cocaine was found in the trunk of a vehicle that ran the border and was chased by police for 45 minutes. The 67-year-old suspect had been under surveillance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, who observed an exchange on Sunday evening in the Bellingham, Washington area and decided to follow the man. At around 7:15 p.m., he approached the Pacific Border Crossing near Blaine, when customs officials pulled the vehicle over. He provided them with his identification, but then made a run for it, according to police. He drove over a median and curb and across a lawn into Canada. U.S. Customs had the man under surveillance from the air and were able to maintain contact with the vehicle and relay its position to Langley RCMP. "That was some really good work by U.S. Customs, who were able to give us co-ordinates and landmarks," said Langley RCMP media officer Cpl. Dale Carr. "He was running all over the place, making left turns, right turns and U-turns." The pursuit took place in the dark, with U.S. officials relaying information to the police who eventually found the suspect near 20th Avenue in Aldergrove. About 45 minutes after the border crashing, Langley RCMP stopped the suspect and placed him under arrest. "It was a very co-operative arrest," said Carr adding the man exited his vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. Police got a warrant to search the vehicle and discovered the cocaine in several large packets. RCMP stopped giving out street values of drugs a couple of years ago in an attempt to de-glamourize the trade. But the cocaine is estimated to be worth more than $4.5 million on the street. "It's a big arrest and a big amount of cocaine that's not going to be on the streets," said Carr. Robert Norton Allaire of Quesnel has been charged with importing a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking. He appeared Monday and Tuesday in Surrey provincial court. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin