Pubdate: Tue, 01 Nov 2005
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

$6M POT BUST MADE AT BORDER

U.S. Officials Score Two Separate Seizures Totalling 448 Kilograms

DETROIT - Five Ontario men are behind bars Monday in Michigan and 
facing drug trafficking charges after U.S. federal authorities 
intercepted two large marijuana shipments in separate instances in Detroit.

The two single-day seizures Friday totalled 448 kilograms of Canadian 
bud authorities peg at a street value of almost $6 million US.

The twin multimillion-dollar busts came just a week after U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the conclusion of 
a record year of Canadian marijuana drug seizures at the Detroit and 
Michigan ports of entry.

Early Friday, ICE agents apprehended four Ontario men in a 
metropolitan Detroit truck parking lot as the contents of a 
tractor-trailer were being transferred to another truck. ICE 
spokesman Greg Palmore said 30 boxes containing 425 pounds (193 
kilograms) worth an estimated street value of $2.5 million US were seized.

Four Held

Palmore wouldn't give further details due to his agency's ongoing 
investigation. He said Monday the four are being held pending arraignment.

[name, age, and city deleted] was arraigned Monday on drug 
trafficking charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) 
officers uncovered a load of sealed marijuana in a tractor-trailer 
that had crossed the Ambassador Bridge late Friday night.

CPB spokesman Chief Ronald Smith said the trucker, an Indian citizen 
with Canadian landed immigrant status, attracted the attention of 
customs agents by his nervous demeanour. Smith said a secondary 
inspection revealed 13 large boxes containing 562 pounds (255 
kilograms) of tightly sealed plastic bags of marijuana with a street 
value of approximately $3.37 million US.

The trucker and his vehicle, with a declared load of U.S.-bound auto 
parts, were registered under the Free And Secure Trade (FAST) 
program, a binational initiative announced in 2002 that provides 
expedited clearance for low-risk commercial shipments.

"Participants ... are bestowed with a higher level of trust and 
confidence in regard to security when crossing the border. Violations 
of this trust will not be tolerated," said CBP Port of Detroit 
director Robert E. Perez.

"If somebody is violating (FAST) ... it's something of great interest 
to us," Smith said.

19,000 Pounds

In the fiscal year ended Oct. 1, ICE reported total pot seizures of 
approximately 19,000 pounds (8,600 kilograms) worth an estimated 
street value of $57 million at Detroit and Michigan's other ports of 
entry, a record high and up 325 per cent from the previous year.

"As a collective Homeland Security team, we've put a tremendous dent 
on this activity," said Palmore. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake