Pubdate: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.pentictonherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664 CHOPPERS ATTRACTING ATTENTION PENTICTON -- A pair of helicopters abandoned on the Penticton Indian Band reserve are attracting a fair amount of attention, but not all of it through official channels. On Sunday, while showing one of the helicopters to a television camera crew, Penticton Indian Band chief Stewart Phillip says someone drove up and was scared off by the sight of band officials, tribal police officers and members of the media on scene. Phillip said Monday while he was giving an interview members of the tribal police force heard a vehicle slowly enter the area "They began to focus their attention on the access road, and they heard it coming really slowly," said Phillip. "It must have come to a point where whoever it was saw the vehicles (near the helicopter) and left." Tribal police pursued the vehicle, but were unable to catch up to it or get a licence plate number. Phillip said there were clear marks on the road where the vehicle turned around in a hurry The incident underscores the need for more resources, said Phillip, not only in battling the drug trade on the reserve but in securing the helicopters themselves The two helicopters were abandoned Nov. 11 in a remote area of the northern portion of the reserve. A pilot was seen leaving one helicopter carrying a duffel bag; the second helicopter was discovered while police were en route to the first Phillip believes the helicopters are both linked to the drug trade. Nobody has come forward to claim either of the helicopters and neither had up-to-date registrations with Transport Canada. Legal counsel working on behalf of the band will be in discussions today with Transport Canada to get the aircraft moved to a more secure location. Both the band and Transport Canada are attempting to seize the helicopters, a legal move which Phillip said is "uncharted territory." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek