Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jul 2009
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/O3vnWIvC
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Adrian Humphreys
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

QUEBEC MAN ALLEGED BOSS OF US$1B DRUG OPERATION

U. S. authorities say a drug network led by a 23-year-old Quebec man 
nicknamed "Goofy" moved nearly US$1-billion worth of drugs into the 
United States from Canada through a native reserve and a secluded 
border crossing in Quebec.

Eight Canadian residents, including Steven Sarti of Brossard, Que., 
the alleged boss, are named in a U. S. federal indictment unsealed 
yesterday along with five U. S. residents charged after a two-year 
police probe called Operation Iron Curtain.

"Sarti organized and implemented a sophisticated scheme to smuggle 
narcotics and currency across the United States border into and from 
Canada. Principally, the organization delivered large quantities of 
marijuana on a weekly basis to various narcotics dealers in New York, 
Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other locations, in 
exchange for large sums of United States currency," the indictment alleges.

"Sarti was responsible for co-ordinating shipments of narcotics from 
the organization's sources of supply in Canada, arranging for 
transportation of the narcotics across the Canadian border, 
delivering the narcotics to the organization's customers and 
smuggling currency from the United States into Canada for payment to 
the organization's sources of supply."

The group usually made its border runs using rental vehicles carrying 
marijuana in heat-sealed bags labelled with the type of marijuana and 
then placed in large hockey bags. The group marketed different types 
under names that included Mango, Pink Haze, Super Jack, Bubblecious, 
Sour Grape and Diesel, authorities said.

Authorities estimated the groups moved about US$250-million worth of 
drugs each year for the past four years.

Much of the marijuana moved through a compound on the Akwesasne 
reserve -- which spans the Ontario-Quebec-New York borders -- owned 
by Richard Todd Adams, 35, of Summerton, Ont., who is also known by 
the nickname "Acid Adams," according to authorities.

The marijuana was taken across the St. Lawrence River by boat or 
snowmobile, depending on the season.

The ring also used a secluded, rural area near Churubusco, N. Y., 
about 80 kilo-metres south of Montreal, where Canadians dressed in 
camouflaged clothing carried hockey bags of marijuana by foot through 
the woods to a truck waiting on the U. S. side.

The couriers were typically paid between $50 and $70 for each pound 
of marijuana successfully delivered.

The ring's activities ended on June 10, shortly before the arrest of 
Mr. Sarti in Vermont. He remains in jail awaiting trial.

Yesterday, authorities executed several warrants and took alleged 
co-conspirators into custody.

Most of the men are charged with conspiracy to possess with intend to 
distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to 
import more than 1,000 kilograms of the drug.

Mr. Sarti and five other Canadians are also charged with conspiracy 
to launder money. As the alleged boss, Mr. Sarti, and his alleged 
right-hand man, Edward "The Russian" Kener, 31, of Florida, are 
charged with conducting a continuing criminal enterprise.
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