Pubdate: Tue, 26 Sep 2006
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2006 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Sue Montgomery, The Gazette

TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED

Closes Book On Biggest Hash Plot

Two more men involved in importing a record-breaking amount of 
hashish from Pakistan were sentenced yesterday, closing the book on a 
plot involving four members of the West End Gang, a boat and $225 
million worth of drugs.

Sidney Lallouz, 57, was given 61/2 years for his role after pleading 
guilty to conspiracy to import drugs and trafficking. Andrew Toman, 
the 24-year-old son of the plot's kingpin, was sentenced to two years 
in a federal penitentiary. Both men are not allowed to own weapons 
for 10 years after their release.

Peter Toman, whose wife, Catherine, is clinical director at Heritage 
Home, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Huntington, near 
the U.S. border, was sentenced in August to 11 years for his role as 
mastermind of the scheme. His son-in-law, Shawn Daoust, was sentenced 
at the same time to four years after pleading guilty to plotting to 
transport the drug shipment from Halifax to Montreal.

Lallouz travelled to Britain and various other countries where he 
made contact with drug suppliers, then relayed the information to 
Peter Toman, who then unwittingly met with undercover RCMP officers, 
according to crown prosecutor Silvie Kovacevich.

The 22.5-tonne drug shipment - six times the amount of all the drugs 
seized in any one year in Canada - left Pakistan in May. The 
contraband, packed in small foil envelopes labelled as coffee, was 
later loaded onto a ship off the coast of Angola.

What they didn't know was that the RCMP, hired as middlemen in the 
transaction, were operating the ship and videotaping the entire exchange.

The RCMP, as instructed, took the drugs to Canada and delivered them 
to a home in St. Jean sur Richelieu.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine