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