Pubdate: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2002 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 MARIJUANA, ECSTASY PILLS ARE SEIZED Alexandria Bay NY-- U.S. Customs inspectors and National Guardsmen in Alexandria Bay seized 1,275 pounds of hydroponic marijuana and 4,565 tablets of ecstasy that were hidden in a tractor trailer bound for South Carolina. U.S. Customs report that three French-Canadians were arrested for attempting to bring the drugs into the United States from Canada. The driver of the 2000 Eagle tractor trailer, Yvan Boucher, 31, and his cousin, Patrick Lauzon, 28, were arrested on federal charges of importation and possession with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. A third individual, Martin Theriault, 37, was arrested by U.S. Customs special agents when he arrived at the port exam site to meet the traffickers. He allegedly was the trucking boss or exporter of the drugs, which were ultimately destined for distribution in the New York City metro area. The tractor trailer, which was hauling a shipment of peat moss was destined for South Carolina, was examined by U.S. Customs inspectors and members of the National Guard. Packages of Marijuana and the ecstasy were allegedly found co-mingled with the load of peat moss. The seized ecstasy could bring an estimated $125,000 profit and the street value of the marijuana was approximately $3.2 million. U.S. Customs agents were assisted in the investigation by New York State Police, New York State Park Police, DEA, and by Canadian Customs. The three men were arraigned Thursday before a Federal magistrate in Syracuse and will be prosecuted by the Office of the US. Attorney. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel