Source: Vancouver Sun Contact: Mon 09 Feb 1998 Section: A1 / Front Author: Marina Jimenez U.S.-B.C. DRUG SMUGGLING SPARKS PROBE Drug smuggling across the B.C.-United States border has become such a serious problem that politicians and police from both countries will soon meet to discuss how to control Canada's most vulnerable section, B.C.'s attorney-general said Sunday. Ujjal Dosanjh and Christine Gregoire, attorney-general for Washington state, will set up a meeting with top police officials, they announced during a meeting of 10 attorneys-general and justice ministers from Western Canada and western U.S. states. ``It is a very serious problem for us,'' Dosanjh said during a break in the meeting. ``There are over 300 overdose deaths a year in British Columbia and I understand the problems are increasing in Washington state as well.'' The meeting of high-level officials will take place sometime over the next few weeks in Washington, where drug-related deaths are on the rise. ``The border county prosecutor told me there is a new strain of heroin and coke of a magnitude that we've not seen before,'' said Gregoire. B.C. and Washington officials hope to devise a strategy to ensure they're not exporting their problems, allowing drugs and criminals to slip across the border. Gregoire believes heroin and cocaine are coming into Washington state from Vancouver, while Dosanjh said it's his understanding the drugs are coming the other way. ``However, as you know, the Vancouver port is now known for drug smuggling . . . it may be that it hits here first and then goes back to the U.S.,'' he added. Police recently reported that the Hells Angels motorcycle gang has infiltrated Vancouver's container port and helped turn it into a major North American entry point for illegal drugs. The other trend officials discussed is the migration of U.S. marijuana growers into B.C., where they're setting up hydroponic operations and then taking their product back south. ``I have been advised by police sources that marijuana growing operations are under the control of biker gangs and organized crime and the crop is then shipped into the U.S.,'' said Dosanjh. Dosanjh, Gregoire and other officials also discussed Internet crime -- including gambling and child pornography -- telemarketing fraud, and lottery sales. ``Those who would commit telemarketing fraud and other types of crime don't know the border,'' said Gregoire, who noted that recently B.C. and Washington worked together to stop a major B.C. telemarketing racket that bilked Washingtonians of several million dollars. ``I'm ashamed to say that British Columbia jurisdiction is being utilized by perpetrators of fraud of vulnerable, elderly citizens of the United States of America, of our neighbors,'' Dosanjh said. The ministers held a closed session Sunday with no staff or outsiders present in order to have candid talks, said Dosanjh. Ministers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, Nevada and Alaska also attended .