Pubdate: Sat, 31 Jan 2004
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
C8-AFBB-D603714610A1
Copyright: 2004 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: CanWest News Service

B.C. POT FINANCING AFGHAN GUNS, TOP COP SAYS

VANCOUVER -- British Columbia marijuana is financing guns being used by 
Afghan rebels, the province's top cop said Friday.

"We have just lost a soldier in Afghanistan," B.C. Solicitor General Rich 
Coleman said in a speech Friday to the Vancouver Board of Trade. "When we 
first arrived in Afghanistan, the weapons that were shipped to (rebel) 
soldiers in Afghanistan, a lot of it could be traced to the marijuana drug 
trade in British Columbia."

Weapons used in Afghanistan against Canadian soldiers were tracked and the 
trail led back to the sale of B.C. marijuana, he said.

Asked later by reporters how he knew this, Coleman said he has been briefed 
through organized crime agencies and police in the province.

"I can tell you that's the information I've been given," he said. "I'm not 
going to give you police sources, but I can tell you we can track the 
pattern of crime internationally."

Through information provided by other police jurisdictions, including those 
in the United States and other countries, Coleman said he has been told the 
sale of B.C. marijuana has financed weapons that are shipped overseas.

"It's an unfortunate fact that we have an active illegal gun trade in 
Vancouver and the basis for paying all that type of illegal crime starts 
with marijuana grow ops."

The transport of B.C. marijuana across the border pays for ecstasy, sex 
trade workers and crack cocaine, he said.

"You know what else it pays for? A very active illegal gun trade in British 
Columbia in the exportation and importation of guns."

The movement of marijuana into the U.S. has upset American officials so 
much that they have tightened the border with Canada, Coleman said.

Coleman later clarified he did not mean to imply that the weapon that 
killed Cpl. Jamie Murphy of Conception Harbour, Nfld., in Afghanistan this 
week was purchased by proceeds from B.C. marijuana.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. John Ward said Friday that police have known the 
marijuana proceeds are being used to finance other illegal activities.

"It is a concern for us and it's an issue we need to deal with," Ward said.

Ward said police know that marijuana is being used to barter for other 
illegal commodities once dealers transport them across the border.

The police say marijuana moving from B.C. is part of a vast, lucrative 
bartering system by organized crime groups stretching from North American 
to Central America and potentially overseas.

The goods being traded include marijuana for cash or for materials to set 
up crystal methamphetamine labs. Guns are also regularly traded.

U.S. Customs spokesman Mike Milne said American authorities have not been 
able to track a direct link between marijuana and the shipment of weapons 
to Afghanistan.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman