Pubdate: Tue, 28 Mar 2006
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Monique Tamminga
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

0 AVENUE DRUG TUNNEL COSTS RECOVERED

Langley Township has recovered its costs for filling in the 0 Avenue
drug tunnel.

The Township has received full payment for costs of $20,000 from the
new owners of the Aldergrove property.

On Jan. 25, a court-approved sale occurred with a closing date of
March 7. Many parties had vested interest in recovering monies from
the sale, including the Township. Once the property was sold, the
mortgage was paid first, then taxes are paid on the property and any
arrears, which is where the Township recouped its money. Then lawyers
and realtors are then paid.

The 3.79 acre property was listed for $599,000.

In July, 2005, three Surrey men were arrested by American authorities
as they emerged from the tunnel on the U.S. side allegedly carrying
200 pounds of B.C. bud.

Francis Davandra Raj, the listed owner of the 0 Avenue property, has
pled guilty to conspiracy to smuggle marijuana. Jonathan Valenzuela
has also pled guilty, and Timothy Woo is expected to enter a guilty
plea on Monday in a District Court in Seattle.

The investigation into the tunnel started in Canada in February 2005,
when local authorities tipped off Americans that a group of known
suspects were planning to build a tunnel.

The tunnel was dug by hand over eight months and stretched underneath
0 Avenue to the floor of a farm house in Washington state.

The Township permanently sealed it using Cellcrete, a non-shrinkable,
foam and aerated concrete product. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom