Pubdate: Fri, 30 Mar 2001
Source: Duncan News Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Duncan News Leader
Contact:  http://www.duncannewsleader.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314
Author: Steven Addison

EIGHT MONTHS IS ENOUGH TIME FOR COCAINE CONVICT

Eight months in jail was enough punishment for the man responsible for one 
of the Valley's biggest ever cocaine seizures.

On Tuesday Provincial Court Judge Judith Kay sentenced Zachary Scott 
Matheson to one day in prison, taking into consideration time he served for 
an unrelated murder charge that was eventually dropped.

Crown counsel Mike Coleman agreed with the decision.

"While he was awaiting trial he spent eight months in custody - most of 
that in solitary confinement for his own protection," Coleman said outside 
Duncan's courthouse, adding the solitary time was similar to two years in 
normal custody.

Coleman and defence lawyer Robin Baird recommended Kay consider the time 
served, after Matheson pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and 
marijuana for the purposes of trafficking.

"We agreed because during the last two years he's done a lot to straighten 
himself out," Coleman said.

North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP arrested Matheson, then 23, and his girlfriend 
Aug. 9, 1999 after responding to reports of gunshots being fired near the 
Village Green Inn.

When officers searched the room occupied by Matheson they discovered cash, 
ammunition and 1.3 kilograms of powdered rock cocaine - about $100,000 worth.

At the time it was considered to be one of the largest seizures North 
Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP had ever made, but it pales compared to the 2 
kilograms of rock cocaine and 2.5 kilograms of marijuana seized Jan. 25 
from the back of a U-Haul van at the Malahat Summit. Victoria police made 
the $400,000 seizure after following the vehicle north from Victoria and 
predict the drugs were destined for sale somewhere up Island or on the 
Lower Mainland.

More recently, U.S. Customs officials arrested five Canadian men and seized 
more than two tons of cocaine Feb. 22 near Port Angeles, WA. That load is 
estimated to be worth millions.

Const. Mo Rosa said cocaine deals are common in the Valley and the supply 
is plentiful, but police can't devote a lot of time to investigate the 
dealings.

"I would say what you're looking at in Duncan is mostly street level 
dealings," he said. "We deal with street level enforcement, meaning the 
day-to-day transactions that go on in the city.

"It is time consuming and it is resource consuming, but we do it whenever 
we can."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart