Pubdate: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 SHERIFF'S STAFF 'RUNNING OURSELVES RAGGED' DUE TO 'EPIDEMIC' OF MARIJUANA SMUGGLING FROM CANADA OKANOGAN, Wash. - A man and a woman from Vancouver have been arrested in the latest of at least four apparent marijuana deliveries by float plane, but the pilot and plane got away, authorities said. Both Canadians, whose identities were not immediately released, were booked into the Okanogan County jail Thursday for investigation of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, Sheriff Frank Rogers said. "We're running ourselves ragged," Rogers said. "It's like an epidemic up here. We're running from call to call." Investigators seized 147 kilograms of pot valued at $1.75 million Cdn after seeing a float plane land on Soap Lake, a small lake on the Colville Indian reserve rather than the larger and better known resort area north of Ephrata, said Sgt. Brad Wilson, commander of the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force. The plane's registration numbers were covered and it took off and flew north before agents from the task force could get to the lake, but they did stop a rental vehicle and arrested the two Canadians, Wilson said. The other marijuana deliveries by float planes have been reported in recent months, and law enforcement officials say there have been indications that drops also were made by float planes and other aircraft in areas too remote for investigators to reach quickly enough to catch anyone. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin