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Written by THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
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MONTREAL - A Canadian customs officer was among eight people arrested in connection with an RCMP investigation into an alleged cross-border drug smuggling ring.
Police claim James Munro, 26, took a $20,000 payment to ease the passage of several hundred pounds of cocaine into Canada.
Munro, who worked the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle border point, was charged with corruption. Along with his seven co-accused, he also faces charges of conspiracy, drug trafficking and gangsterism.
The investigation, which began in 2007, stemmed from information provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI.
The FBI established links between drug suppliers in Quebec and New Brunswick following the arrest of a cannabis supplier in Florida.
Munro was arrested last week during a controlled delivery of drugs across the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing in southern Quebec.
According to the RCMP, the drug ring was using marijuana and methamphetamine to pay for the Columbian cocaine.
They said their sting operation broke up a plan to smuggle 300 kilograms into Canada at the end of June.
Police in New Brunswick and Quebec picked up four suspects on Wednesday. Two other suspects were arrested and charged in the U.S.
The RCMP is still looking for three more suspects they believe are tied to the ring, two of whom may have fled to Colombia.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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