Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2010
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Kim Bolan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

U.S. JUDGE GIVES LANGLEY MAN 10 YEARS FOR SMUGGLING ECSTASY

A Langley man convicted of smuggling ecstasy into the U.S. received a
10-year sentence in a Seattle courtroom Monday.

Bradley Keith Bourque, 35, pleaded guilty in January to one count of
conspiracy to distribute ecstasy.

He was arrested last Oct. 20 as he crossed into Washington state with
200,000 ecstasy pills secreted in a hidden compartment in his GMC pickup.

U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said the customized compartment
was proof that Bourque had either made previous smuggling trips or
planned others in the future.

Bourque was arrested after undercover agents from the U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made contact with a drug producer.

"The agents had arranged the delivery through telephone calls with an
ecstasy supplier operating out of British Columbia," stated the
sentencing memo prepared by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scoville.

Bourque met the agents who surreptitiously recorded the conversation
in which the Langley man boasted he had a special secret compartment
built into his GMC pickup truck. "He told the undercover agents he had
been smuggling drugs for some time and that he was close to others
within his organization," the memo said.

"Little by little, the undercover agent elicited one damning admission
after another. Bourque stated that he had been doing smuggling runs
for 'a few years,' and that he was paid 'per job.' ... He described
the man he was delivering for as 'awesome' and 'totally solid,' "
Scoville wrote. "At one point, Bourque made a call to his boss, who he
explained liked to know where he was. Bourque can be heard telling his
boss, 'Yo bro, we're just gonna wait for one piece because I don't
want to release anything without a piece to put it in.' Regarding his
truck, Bourque explained that '[w]e have a special shop that works on
it.'"

Border crossing records show Bourque had crossed from Canada into the
U.S. five times in 2009 before his arrest.

"For some time, Bradley Keith Bourque operated as a professional drug
smuggler, carrying large loads of ecstasy into the United States. Due
to good investigative work, he was caught in the act with a massive
quantity of ecstasy and now stands before the court for sentencing,"
Scoville said. "The court should not let pass the opportunity to send
a message to would-be Canadian drug smugglers by imposing a
substantial sentence on Bourque."

Bourque had a single conviction in Canada for driving while
prohibited.

Scoville said drug groups seem to be recruiting couriers who are not
on police radar.

"This minimal record is something of a job requirement for a drug
smuggler, because Canadians who are convicted of drug trafficking
usually lose the privilege of entering into the United States,"
Scoville wrote. 
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