http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006 ... 98-cp.html

June 29, 2006

High-flying drug smugglers grounded

(CP) - U.S. and Canadian authorities say more than 40 arrests have been made in an investigation of drug smugglers flying drugs across the border between B.C. and Washington state.

Officials outlined details of a year-a-half, multi-agency probe called Operation Frozen Timber at a news conference Thursday in Bellingham, Wash.

Authorities in both countries seized about 3,640 kilograms of marijuana, 365 kilograms of cocaine, three aircraft and $1.5 million in U.S. currency.

John McKay, the U.S. attorney for western Washington, says the organized crime groups are motivated by greed - but authorities have cut into their profits and shown there is "a high price to pay."

RCMP and U.S. Customs officials say B.C.-based drug smugglers used helicopters and airplanes to drop drugs at pre-arranged sites in remote wooded locations in Washington and B.C.

They say several of the Canadian pilots linked to the scheme were not licensed to fly and at least two helicopters crashed, resulting in three deaths.