RCMP and US DEA Intercept planned Marihuana-for-Cocaine Exchange

By 250 News

Seven Canadian men and one American male are facing charges, while one Canadian took his own life in connection to a major criminal organization where marihuana-for-cocaine was exchanged. The RCMP South-East District Drug Section, RCMP Integrated Border Enforcement Team and the US Drug Enforcement Administration collaborated to arrest seven individuals and seize 2 helicopters, 83 kgs of cocaine, 750 pounds of marihuana and 20 pounds of ecstasy.
 

(At right,  bags of ecstasy, below, bags of marijuana photos courtesy RCMP)

This investigation began after police in Utah seized 83kgs of cocaine and arrested one Canadian and one American during a traffic stop. As a result of this seizure, information was obtained that led investigators to a remote site near Colville, WA. On February 23, 2009 a 24-year-old male from Revelstoke, BC had been arrested by US authorities in the Colville National Forest. He was attempting to off-load 426 pounds of marihuana utilizing a helicopter that was reported stolen to the RCMP by a Malakwa man. This helicopter and marihuana were seized by US authorities. The 24-year-old male was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and was held in US custody at the Spokane County Jail where he hanged himself on February 27, 2009.

On March 5, 2009 intelligence information led police to believe that a second helicopter was going to be transporting marihuana and a large quantity of MDMA (ecstasy) to the US. Upon arrival of the helicopter, a 29-year-old Kelowna man was arrested in Idaho by US authorities. The seized bags of drugs yielded 174 pounds of marihuana. This resulted in rapid information sharing between the US authorities and the RCMP to allow the RCMP to attend the site where the helicopter took off in BC. Through use of surveillance the RCMP were able to arrest a 48-year-old male and a 20-year-old male both from Chilliwack, BC who were on their way back to pick up the remainder of the drugs at the helicopter landing zone just outside of Nelson, BC. An additional 150 pounds of marihuana and 20 pounds of ecstasy (approximately 40,000 tablets) was seized by the RCMP.

In connection to these arrests, the RCMP executed a search warrant on March 6, 2009 of their two hotel rooms and a storage trailer in Nelson, BC where a loaded 40 calibre handgun was seized.

In concurrence with this seizure, further US DEA and RCMP shared intelligence allowed the RCMP to execute a search warrant at the residence of the Malakwa man on March 5, 2009 where the 37-year old male was arrested without incident. Another search warrant was executed at the residence of a 35-year old Salmon Arm man where three handguns, one shot gun and one rifle were seized. This man was arrested in Kamloops on March 5, 2009 while on his way to Vancouver. Further to this investigation, 35-year old Sean Doak was arrested in connection to this criminal operation. He was on parole at the time; but his parole has now been revoked and he remains in custody.

Currently, three males have been released and are awaiting court dates while the 48-year-old man arrested at the helicopter departure site is being held awaiting extradition to the United States on previous unrelated drug charges. The 29 year-old Kelowna man has appeared in court but remains in Federal custody in Idaho. The other two arrested in Utah also remain in US custody.

This dismantling of a major sophisticated cross-border drug organization was made possible by the intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts of the RCMP South-East District Drug Section, the RCMP Integrated Border Integrity Team, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as further assistance from specialized units such as Customs and Excise in Nelson, the South-East District Criminal Intelligence Service and surrounding RCMP detachments such as Sicamous and Salmon Arm.

“This international investigation reveals just how seamless American and Canadian Law Enforcement work together in an effort to combat Criminal Organizations operating between the two countries,” said Staff Sergeant Dave Goddard.

The RCMP Drug Enforcement Program in conjunction with units from Border Integrity Program in the Southeast District are dedicated to the detection, interdiction and dismantling of British Columbia's illicit drug network. The goal is to prevent drug-related social and economic harm by reducing the supply and demand for illicit drugs, always working towards safer homes and safer communities.

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