CORNWALL– The alleged ringleader of a large-scale drug-smuggling operation that straddled the Canada-U.S. border remained at large Tuesday following an RCMP-assisted bust in upstate New York, authorities said.
The Americans said 34 people faced drug conspiracy and possession charges after tonnes of marijuana were smuggled from Canada to the United States through the St. Regis Mohawk Reserve, which encompasses land on both sides of the border.
Of those charged, 23 were Canadians.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Marc Laporte said the Mounties helped in the U.S.-led investigation.
"We co-operated just in regards to sharing information," Laporte said.
"It's completely their investigation and we were just in an assistance capacity."
Prosecutors alleged the ring was run by Mickey Woods, 38, of Cornwall, Ont., and made as much as US$45 million smuggling about 10 tonnes of marijuana into the United States.
Investigators seized about 400 kilograms of pot and nearly US$2 million in drug proceeds.
Nine people were under arrest but Woods and his alleged chief lieutenant, Gaetan Dinelle, 35, also of Cornwall, remained at large, U.S. authorities said.
"I know they had several Canadian people that they were going to be laying charges (against) but, of course, they would have to go through some sort of an extradition process to get a warrant issued in Canada," Laporte said.
Prosecutors said the ring distributed marijuana mostly in Boston, but also as far away as Atlanta.
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Baxter said the ring operated between 2005 and 2008.
"Akwesasne (St. Regis) has long been exploited by criminal organizations that are looking to smuggle narcotics because of its unique position straddling the border between the United States and Canada," Baxter said.
This was at least the fourth time in the past decade that federal authorities have broken up a major drug smuggling operation working through the remote northern New York reservation, which is split by the St. Lawrence River, Baxter said.
If convicted of the conspiracy and possession charges, most of the defendants would face between 10 to 40 years in federal prison as well as fines that could reach $4 million each.
Woods and Dinelle were also charged with leading a continuing criminal enterprise and each faces a mandatory life term.
Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the $45 million in illegal drug proceeds.
U.S. authorities allege Woods and his underlings used boats to smuggle marijuana across the river in warmer weather, and snowmobiles and ATVs when the river froze over.
