Pubdate: Mon, 20 Dec 2004
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Doug Beazley

POLICE INVESTIGATE 'GUNS FOR DOPE' TRADE

When an Edmonton drug thug is in the market for an untraceable handgun, he 
usually makes a beeline for Washington state. Local and U.S. authorities 
agree the state that gave us Starbucks and Nirvana is also source No. 1 for 
firearms smuggled into Canadian provinces - Alberta included.

Proximity, and lax state laws for gun sales, make Washington a natural 
source for contraband weapons.

"There's quite a two-way trade with Washington, and it pretty much overlaps 
perfectly with the drug trade," said Insp. Bill Carver of the Victoria 
Police. He's the B.C. liaison for NWEST, the national gun-tracing service. 
"It's guns for dope. Our hydroponic marijuana goes south, handguns and 
cocaine come north.

"We're just starting to understand how it all works."

U.S. gun laws vary widely between states. In Washington, sales made through 
licensed dealers are registered with the state - but private transactions 
between individuals aren't.

Such sales, which often take place at gun shows, leave police with a very 
cold trail if the gun in question ends up being used in a violent crime in 
Canada.

Last year, agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives traced 152 guns smuggled into Canada to origin sales in 
Washington, more than Texas and Florida combined.

Between Jan. 1, 2003, and June 30 of this year, ATF agents traced 1,805 
firearms recovered in Canada back to U.S. sources. Alberta accounted for 
197 of those guns.

Gun smugglers tend to take small shipments across the border - often in 
backpacks and on foot - said Det. Rick Buckley, NWEST liaison with the 
Edmonton Police Service.

"They tend to be bought up by the drug dealers with the deep pockets, and 
usually within a few hours," he said.

Since B.C. has more border crossings than Alberta, many with light 
security, smugglers tend to bring guns up through B.C. to buyers throughout 
the region. Street prices run to triple the retail price.
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MAP posted-by: Beth