Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Keith Fraser, The Province
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials

RCMP PAID FOR DRUG CAR

Police Also Put $5,000 On Mercedes For Hells Angel Associate

The RCMP paid for one "drug car" and made a $5,000 down payment on a 
Mercedes convertible owned by a Hells Angels target, a police agent 
who infiltrated the club testified yesterday.

Michael Plante told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Victor Curtis that the 
so-called "drug car" -- a Saturn --was specially fashioned with a 
"hollowed-out bottom and a hollowed-out trunk."

The car was designed to carry hidden cocaine shipments from B.C. to 
Manitoba but was not used for that purpose, he told the judge.

The Mounties also approved the down payment on the Mercedes, which 
was owned by Jonathan Bryce Jr., an associate of the East End chapter 
and the son of club president John Bryce. On Sept. 15, the younger 
Bryce pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and will be sentenced Nov. 28.

Plante said that on Jan. 13, 2005 -- just before he quit as a police 
agent under a contract to make up to $1 million to target the club -- 
he met Bryce to arrange to buy five kilograms of cocaine, at $25,000 per kilo.

Four kilograms were to have been paid for and one was "on the cuff," 
meaning on credit, he said.

Another Hells Angels target --  [Name redacted]  -- was to reimburse 
Plante for payment of half of the drugs, said the agent.

In other testimony, Plante said he suffered frequent "anxiety 
attacks" and had to see a doctor for medication due to the strains of 
leading a double life.

"It happened all the time," he said. "It got worse as the 
investigation went on. Just all the stress, the pressure. Having to 
lie to everybody."

Asked by prosecutor Martha Devlin whether the lies were made to his 
police handlers, Plante denied doing so and insisted he meant he told 
lies to his Hells Angels targets, including  [Name redacted], [Name 
redacted] and [Name redacted].

Plante is testifying during an application by accused methamphetamine 
traffickers [Name redacted] and [Name redacted] to have their charges 
stayed due to unauthorized crimes such as assaults committed by Plante.

[Name redacted]and [Name redacted] are charged on a separate 
indictment and have not yet gone to trial.

The defence is expected to start calling several police witnesses, 
including the men who handled Plante, in the next few days.

The courtroom continued to be under heavy security yesterday.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine