Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html Author: Stephanie Rubec HAVING A BLAST ON THE 'HIGH' SEAS Canucks Bust Drug-Running Boat, Use It For Target Practice OTTAWA -- Canadian sailors are on a high after blowing up $72 million in opium and hashish. Commodore Jean-Pierre Thiffault, commander of the Canadian Forces fight against terrorism, said HMCS Toronto's sailors led the high-seas drug bust Wednesday. He said the take-down ended in an impressive show of firepower yesterday when the frigate used the drug boat for target practice. "They took advantage of the opportunity to do a bit of gun practice," he said in an interview from the coalition headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Canadian sailors staffing the frigate first spotted a dhow - a local type of sailing vessel - towing a speedboat in international waters off Pakistan Wednesday. They boarded when two men jumped into the speedboat and abandoned the dhow with its motors running. The boarding party uncovered about 90 bags stuffed with plastic packages stamped with the phrase "Freedom of Afghanistan." The bags contained two tonnes of opium and hashish, estimated at a street value of $41 million to $72 million. "That's a big find, a significant find," Thiffault said. "And if you're able to deny the enemy that much money in one opportunity then it's a significant event." Coalition intelligence officers combed through the shipment to determine if the drugs were linked to al-Qaida or Taliban suspects. Thiffault said there was nowhere to dock the dhow, so the Canadian sailors towed it further out to sea. "When you have absolutely no place to return the derelict vessel, you resolve to (use) other means." HMCS Toronto unleashed her 57-mm guns on the boat, sinking it and its drug cargo. "There were other ships involved and aircraft and they took advantage to do a bit of combat-readiness training, seeing as they were disposing of it altogether," Thiffault said. HMCS Toronto is part of Canada's contribution to the war against terrorism, which includes two other frigates, a destroyer and a supply ship. The Canadian Forces have also contributed 750 ground troops in Kandahar, and about 40 commandos and air force personnel working with three Hercules transport planes, an Airbus and two maritime surveillance planes. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh