Pubdate: Wed, 01 Mar 2006
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

RCMP CLAIM RAID PREVENTED WHOLE LOTTA BUD

MONTREAL - An Internet company that sells marijuana seeds has gone 
over like a lead zeppelin with the RCMP.

Although the Montreal-based company, Heaven's Stairway, has operated 
openly since 1998 and is listed on Quebec's business registry, the 
RCMP said Tuesday it has shut it down.

The RCMP described the large-scale bust as the first of its kind in 
Canada. Besides evoking Led Zeppelin's signature song for its name, 
the company also sold seeds with quirky labels like Crippy Bud and 
Deep Blue Rush.

Company owner Richard Baghdadlian, 38, and six others have been 
charged with importing and trafficking in marijuana and conspiracy to 
do the same. All are free on bail.

Baghdadlian's lawyer, Loris Cavaliere, said he has not yet seen the 
evidence gathered in the case.

"It's the first time I've ever seen a case like this," Cavaliere said.

During the RCMP investigation the company received 30 orders a day at 
an average price of $100 each, said Sgt. Andre Potvin. The company is 
believed to have purchased seeds from dealers in British Columbia, 
Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Potvin said there is evidence the company sold seeds to customers all 
over North America and in several other countries.

When the RCMP carried out its search warrants, officers seized more 
than 200,000 marijuana seeds, enough to supply 500 greenhouses with 400 plants.

The firm received orders through its websites, and customers would pay

for their seeds by mailing cash or money orders to post office boxes 
in Montreal.

Potvin said the RCMP was aware of Heaven's Stairway for years but 
that it lacked the resources to pursue the company until a new drug 
enforcement team was assembled in 2004.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman