Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2005
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Kurt Langmann
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

DRUG TUNNEL DWELLERS FLUSHED OUT

Three Men Face Charges After Eight-Month Investigation Into Cross-Border Tunnel

Three Surrey men were arrested by American authorities Wednesday 
afternoon, as they emerged from a 110-metre long tunnel between 
Canada and the U.S.

The men were carrying 200 pounds of B.C. Bud" marijuana but were 
unarmed and taken into custody without incident, said U.S. Attorney John McKay.

Charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana are 
Francis Devandra Raj, 30, Timothy Woo, 34, and Jonathan Valenzuela, 
27, all of Surrey. The three men appeared in U.S. District Court in 
Seattle Thursday afternoon and remain in custody.

McKay said the tunnel is the first found on the U.S. northern border, 
and was significant because we watched as it was completed and the 
loads (of contraband) came through," using surveillance equipment.

It was an international investigation which began in Canada in 
February, when Canadian authorities were tipped off that a group of 
suspects known to Canadian police were planning to build the tunnel.

The sophisticated" tunnel was dug by hand by the three men over an 
eight-month period, within shouting distance of the Aldergrove-Lynden 
border crossing.

Raj is the owner of the Canadian property where the tunnel started 
inside an old quonset hut, and American authorities are investigating 
the circumstances surrounding the vacant U.S. farmhouse where the 
tunnel exited in the crawl space.

The tunnel ceiling and walls were braced with metre-long 2x6s, 
screwed side-by-side for the entire length of the tunnel. It was also 
ventilated and wired for electric lights.

Director Kim Scoville of the Canadian Border Services Agency said 
officers watched lumber going in and soil coming out (of the quonset 
hut). It wasn't too difficult to come to the conclusion that a tunnel 
was being built."

Inspector Pat Fogarty of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit 
- - B.C. is the officer in charge of the investigation, which involved 
law enforcement agencies from both sides of the border.

Fogarty said the coordinated investigation began last February," and 
we monitored their activities on both sides of the border, tracked 
their progress and allowed completion (of the tunnel).

It was ambitious and sophisticated operation. We executed a number of 
search warrants in connection with this operation and are confident 
that we've effectively shut down the operation."

DEA special agent Rod Benson said 33 similar tunnels have been 
identified by law enforcement officers on the Mexican border and this 
is the first found on the Canadian border.

It could have been more ominous," said Benson, as there was a 
significant criminal organization responsible for it.

Over the past two years we've seen growth of criminal organizations 
smuggling marijuana, and we're starting to see organized crime move 
anything as they've gained expertise."

Benson said security concerns about potential human and weapons 
smuggling caused officers to shut it down Wednesday after following 
several drug deliveries since the tunnel's completion on July 2.

Two Americans were arrested after receiving previous drug deliveries 
from the tunnel.

Using a delayed notice" search warrant, U.S. officers entered the 
Washington home July 2 to examine the tunnel and followed that with a 
court order authorizing installation of cameras and listening devices 
inside the home and tunnel.

Officers observed several trips by Raj, Woo and Valenzuela through 
the tunnel, carrying hockey bags or garbage bags, which were loaded 
into a van and driven south.

In one instance the bags were loaded into an SUV with Utah plates, 
which was delivered to a woman with a small child at Bellis Fair 
Mall. The Washington State Patrol stopped the vehicle in Ellensburg, 
and seized 93 pounds of marijuana.

McKay said investigation on the U.S. side is ongoing and he expects 
further charges will be laid against the three Canadian men and other 
suspects in the U.S.

They were smart enough to build the tunnel but not smart enough not 
to get caught," said McKay.
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MAP posted-by: Beth