Binky
07-29-2005, 08:08 AM
AUTHORITIES ON ALERT FOR OTHER TUNNELS UNDER BORDER
Police Looking For More Underground Smuggling
The discovery of a sophisticated tunnel used to smuggle marijuana and ecstasy under the Canada-U.S. border in Aldergrove has authorities on the alert for other underground smuggling schemes.
Jeff Eig, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) in Seattle, said there is a possibility that more than one tunnel exists or is being planned.
"As border security tightens, drug traffickers will have to resort to more creative measures," Eig told The Leader.
However, Eig downplayed the possibility there could be as many drug tunnels along the Canada-U.S. border as the 33 recently discovered along the U.S. border with Mexico.
"One tunnel doesn't make a trend," Eig said.
Three Surrey men were arrested last Wednesday by American authorities as they emerged from a 110-metre long tunnel between Canada and the U.S.
Charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana are Francis Devandra Raj, 30, Timothy Woo, 34, and Jonathan Valenzuela, 27, all of Surrey.
The three men appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle Thursday afternoon and remain in custody.
Police said the tunnel was dug by hand by the three men over an eight-month period, close to the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing. The tunnel ceiling and walls were braced with metre-long 2"x6"s. It was also ventilated and wired for electric lights.
Criminals who used the tunnel would be charged $500 a pound to ship pot or ecstasy into the U.S. and the tunnel operators allegedly said they could move 300 lbs. ( 138 kg ) at a time.
Francis Devandra Raj was the listed owner of the Canadian property where the tunnel started inside an old hut, and American authorities are investigating the purchase of the vacant U.S. farmhouse where the tunnel exited by Whatcom County couple Raman L. Patel and Kusum B. Patel in July of 2003 .
DEA special agent Rod Benson said there was a "significant criminal organization" behind the tunnelling effort.
Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Surrey Leader
Contact: newsroom@surreyleader.com
Website: http://www.surreyleader.com/
Police Looking For More Underground Smuggling
The discovery of a sophisticated tunnel used to smuggle marijuana and ecstasy under the Canada-U.S. border in Aldergrove has authorities on the alert for other underground smuggling schemes.
Jeff Eig, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) in Seattle, said there is a possibility that more than one tunnel exists or is being planned.
"As border security tightens, drug traffickers will have to resort to more creative measures," Eig told The Leader.
However, Eig downplayed the possibility there could be as many drug tunnels along the Canada-U.S. border as the 33 recently discovered along the U.S. border with Mexico.
"One tunnel doesn't make a trend," Eig said.
Three Surrey men were arrested last Wednesday by American authorities as they emerged from a 110-metre long tunnel between Canada and the U.S.
Charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana are Francis Devandra Raj, 30, Timothy Woo, 34, and Jonathan Valenzuela, 27, all of Surrey.
The three men appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle Thursday afternoon and remain in custody.
Police said the tunnel was dug by hand by the three men over an eight-month period, close to the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing. The tunnel ceiling and walls were braced with metre-long 2"x6"s. It was also ventilated and wired for electric lights.
Criminals who used the tunnel would be charged $500 a pound to ship pot or ecstasy into the U.S. and the tunnel operators allegedly said they could move 300 lbs. ( 138 kg ) at a time.
Francis Devandra Raj was the listed owner of the Canadian property where the tunnel started inside an old hut, and American authorities are investigating the purchase of the vacant U.S. farmhouse where the tunnel exited by Whatcom County couple Raman L. Patel and Kusum B. Patel in July of 2003 .
DEA special agent Rod Benson said there was a "significant criminal organization" behind the tunnelling effort.
Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Surrey Leader
Contact: newsroom@surreyleader.com
Website: http://www.surreyleader.com/