U.S. AND CANADIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE CRACKED A SMUGGLING NETWORK THAT USED AIRCRAFT AND DELIVERY SPOTS IN REMOTE WESTERN PARKS TO SHIP TONS OF DRUGS OVER THE BORDER, OFFICIALS SAID ON THURSDAY, REUTERS SAID. PILOTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SPARSELY POPULATED BORDER BETWEEN EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE AND BRITISH COLUMBIA MADE BRAZEN DAYLIGHT DELIVERIES IN THE WILDERNESS, CARRYING POTENT "BC BUD" MARIJUANA TO THE UNITED STATES AND COCAINE INTO CANADA, POLICE SAID. OFFICIALS SAID ONE OF THE SUSPECTS WAS RECORDED BRAGGING THAT THE CANADIAN-BASED SMUGGLING SYSTEM WAS MORE EFFICIENT THAN FEDEX BECAUSE IT COULD DELIVER ITS LOADS ANYWHERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. "THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE BEYOND THE REACH OF THE LAW," JULIE MYERS, AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, TOLD A BELLINGHAM NEWS CONFERENCE THAT FEATURED SURVEILLANCE RECORDINGS OF DRUG DELIVERIES. OFFICIALS DID NOT ESTIMATE THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE DRUGS MOVED BY THE SMUGGLERS, BUT THE VIDEO SHOWED A HELICOPTER DELIVERING 800-POUND (360-KG) LOADS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA-RAISED MARIJUANA THAT CAN SELL IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN $3,000 A POUND. --MORE 30/06/2006 00:07 ت م
