Pubdate: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Page: A26
Copyright: 2001 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Steve Berry
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-OP POT BARON GETS 4 YEARS' JAIL

One of B.C.'s biggest marijuana growers has been sentenced to four years in 
prison.

Don Briere, 50, a former B.C. Marijuana Party provincial candidate, was 
also prohibited from owning firearms for 15 years.

Briere pleaded guilty to five counts: production of marijuana, possession 
for the purpose of trafficking, the unsafe storage of ammunition, unsafe 
storage of a firearm, and laundering $2.3 million.

Surrey provincial court Judge Gurmail Gill said Briere "was the directing 
mind" behind a very large operation.

He said the Surrey man must be sentenced to federal time as a "deterrence 
and denunciation" of his activities.

Briere controlled a number of grow-ops in the Lower Mainland and other 
areas of B.C. between 1991 and 1999 and employed dozens of people.

When Briere was busted in March 1999, police found 113 kilograms of dried 
B.C. bud valued at $650,000 and about $50,000 in grow equipment in his 
Surrey warehouse.

Police also found $300,000 in cash at his home.  Briere also bought 
properties in the Lower Mainland and the Interior.

"He was a very busy man," said Gill yesterday.

Briere still faces the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency which wants $1.3 
million in back taxes.
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MAP posted-by: Beth