Pubdate: Thu, 05 May 2005
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Authors: Darah Hansen, and Jennifer Miller, with files from Maurice Bridge
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GANG FORCED ME TO SMUGGLE POT, CUSTOMS OFFICER SAYS

A Canadian customs officer accused of trying to smuggle 100 kilograms of 
marijuana across the border at Blaine, Wash., claims he was transporting 
the drugs "because Indo-Canadian gangsters had threatened his family," 
according to a statement sworn before a U.S. judge Wednesday.

Altaf Merali, a 37-year-old Surrey resident, is charged under U.S. federal 
law with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. If convicted, he faces a 
mandatory minimum term of five years behind bars, with a maximum of 40 
years and a $2-million fine.

Merali made his first appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle 
Wednesday, and will remain in jail pending the results of a bail hearing, 
scheduled for Monday, May 9. Following Wednesday's court appearance, 
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jennings said it is "unfortunate when a 
person in a position of trust like a customs officer betrays that trust."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities estimate the value of the 
marijuana at $680,000 US.

A statement sworn in the Seattle court by Jacob Black, special agent with 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says the marijuana was discovered 
early Tuesday afternoon.

The discovery was made after a U.S. customs computer "randomly selected" a 
GMC Safari van driven by Merali for a secondary customs search.

With his Canada Customs uniform hanging in a rear window, Merali had 
earlier "flashed" his customs badge to a U.S. customs officer and stated he 
was coming to visit an area director for United States Customs and Border 
Protection, according to Black's statement.

Once inside the port of entry, Merali allegedly took a border guard aside 
and told him he was transporting marijuana.

Special agents Black and Andrew Poore were quickly called in from 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to Black's statement, Merali allegedly told the agents that a man 
in his south Surrey neighbourhood and another known to him only as "Sam" 
had recruited him in November to smuggle marijuana south across the border 
and bring cocaine back into Canada. Merali said the neighbour had 
repeatedly tried to set up smuggling trips, but Merali kept backing out, 
stating he was "scared."

At that point, according to court documents, Sam told Merali he was "in too 
deep," adding, "if he kept backing out of deals, the people in the 
organization would hurt Merali's family."

Merali allegedly told the agents the day he was arrested was his first 
smuggling trip.

A second man -- 20-year-old Jason Dean Smith of Stanwood, Wash. -- was 
arrested in connection with the marijuana at a McDonald's restaurant near 
Bellis Fair Mall. Earlier, Merali allegedly told the agents he was to 
deliver the marijuana to a man wearing a red baseball cap at that location. 
The agents arrested Smith as he tried to flee the scene in a white Cadillac 
Escalade.

On Wednesday, Patrick Higgins, public affairs officer with the Canadian 
consulate in Seattle, said his office is aware of Merali's case "and the 
consulate does have a role to play."

Higgins said a consular officer has been assigned to the case. The officer 
is "not an attorney," Higgins said. "[His] role is to make sure that the 
Canadian citizen is aware of anything they need to be aware of as they're 
moving through these processes down here."

North of the border, Paula Shore, Canadian Border Services Agency 
spokeswoman, confirmed Merali is a CBSA employee, but refused to comment on 
his job title or description, nor would she say how long Merali has been 
with the agency.

"We don't discuss employee-employer relationships," Shore said.

Merali is described as a "customs officer" in documents filed with the New 
Westminster land title office. A property search showed Merali and his 
wife, teacher Jennifer Merali, recently built a single-family home in a 
newly developed neighbourhood on 150A Street in Surrey. The value of the 
property is listed at $439,000. The couple recently celebrated the birth of 
their second child, a boy. They also have a four-year-old son.

Neighbours were shocked to hear of Merali's arrest. Bill Warchol, who lives 
across the street from the Meralis' large, two-storey home, described Altaf 
- -- known as "Al" -- Merali as a "nice" guy, adding he is captain of the 
neighbourhood Block Watch program.

In Coquitlam, where Merali and his wife lived prior to moving to Surrey 
earlier this year, Colin Campbell said he was "almost in tears" to learn 
the man accused in the smuggling was his friend and former next-door 
neighbour, Al Merali.

"I'm sick. I'm absolutely sick," Campbell said. "He's a fabulous guy."

Campbell, a criminology teacher at Douglas College, said Merali was a 
frequent guest speaker in his class as a representative of the Canadian 
Border Services Agency and would actively recruit students to become 
customs officers. "He was very proud of what he did," Campbell said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom