Pubdate: Thu, 12 May 2005 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Ethan Baron Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) CONFESSED POT-SMUGGLER FIRED FROM CANADIAN CUSTOMS JOB Agent Awaiting Outcome A Canadian Customs agent charged with smuggling 100 kilograms of marijuana into the U.S. has been yanked from his job. Altaf Merali, 37, of Surrey was arrested May 3 at the Pacific Highway border crossing. U.S. authorities allege Merali was driving a GMC Safari van with his customs uniform hanging in the rear window. He flashed his customs badge and said he was on his way to visit the director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, American authorities say. A random computer selection picked the van for secondary inspection. A search turned up $850,000 worth of pot. "Mr. Merali has been relieved from duty pending the results of an internal investigation," said Paula Shore, spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency. "Any issue of alleged smuggling at the border is of concern to us." U.S. authorities allege Merali confessed to smuggling, claiming a man named Sam had threatened to hurt his family if he didn't commit the crime. Merali led agents to a man he said was to pick up the pot in Bellingham, Wash. In September, U.S. border guard Cory Whitfield, 35, tried to drive a van filled with more than 240 kg. of pot from B.C. into Washington. He was sentenced in February to five years in prison. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth