Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2004 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Jason Bell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) WEIGH STATION SNIFFS OUT DRUGS Inspectors Again Detect Big Shipment Inspectors at the West Hawk Lake weigh station on the Trans-Canada Highway have been credited with sniffing out a major drug shipment, including the largest load of cocaine in Manitoba history. And it's not the first time the West Hawk inspectors' keen eyes have spotted major drug shipments. RCMP said in the latest seizure, 37 kilograms of cocaine -- with an estimated value of $6 million once broken down by dealers and sold on the street -- was found Monday afternoon about 150 kilometres east of Winnipeg in a semi-trailer hauling potatoes to Toronto. One hundred kilograms of marijuana, believed to be worth close to $2 million on the street, was also discovered during a search by members of the Falcon Beach RCMP detachment. The drugs were bound for a market out east, police said. Two British Columbia men are in police custody, charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. Corp. Bob Ross of the RCMP's drug unit lauded the work of provincial transportation inspectors at the West Hawk weigh scales, who noticed a box in the back of the truck was anything but potatoes. 'Very energetic' "Obviously, they are very good at their job," Ross said yesterday, during an RCMP show-and-tell on the huge seizure. "We're fortunate they've been able to uncover this type of product that is being shipped illegally." Just before Christmas, truck inspectors and RCMP seized 292 kilograms of high-grade marijuana from an eastbound semi-trailer at the West Hawk weigh scales. The discovery was made by an inspector after he compared the truck's paperwork to what was being carried in its trailer. In total over the last year, inspectors and RCMP have seized nearly 1,000 kilos of marijuana at the West Hawk weigh scale. "They are very keen, very energetic," said Sgt. Steve Saunders of the highway inspectors. "Plus, they have carved out an excellent working relationship with our Falcon Beach detachment." In the latest seizure, an inspector called Mounties after finding a box containing marijuana during a routine check at the weigh station near the Manitoba-Ontario border. Once a search warrant was obtained, more boxes were found. In all, six large cardboard boxes filled with marijuana and two smaller boxes of powdered cocaine were discovered hidden amongst the boxes of potatoes. Beofre Monday's seizure, the largest cocaine bust in Manitoba occurred two years ago when 17 kilos were seized by the Winnipeg police drug unit from a Hells Angels associate who hid it in a spare tire. Saunders said while Monday's cocaine seizure was huge, the amount of marijuana stopped from hitting the streets was also significant. "If you used (this shipment) to smoke one joint a day, it'd take you about 500 years to finish it off," he said. Ross said drug seizures probably represent only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drugs moving through the province. Police believe the drugs are linked to organized crime. "Typically, with this amount, that's what we assume," said Saunders. "It underscores how involved organized crime is in the movement of illicit drugs." Saunders said the men arrested were not carrying weapons. "The (weigh station) compliance officers were not in harm's way," he said. Police have long said criminals use the country's highways to transport drug money and drugs. Over the last two years, RCMP in Manitoba have made record seizures of marijuana being trucked to Eastern Canada from British Columbia. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin