Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
International

Canadian Man Involved In Ring That Used Helicopters To Smuggle Pot, Cocaine Pleads Guilty

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Dec, 2015 12:11 PM
    SEATTLE — A Canadian man pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge Monday for his involvement in a ring that used low-flying helicopters to smuggle cocaine and marijuana across the U.S. border in 2008 and 2009.
     
    Sean William Doak entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Seattle after fighting extradition for years.
     
     
    Under the terms of his plea deal, prosecutors and his lawyer agreed to recommend a prison term of seven to eight years, though the judge is not bound to follow that.
     
    Investigators say the conspiracy was headed by Colin Hugh Martin, who has yet to be brought to the U.S. to face prosecution. His attorney, Peter Camiel, said Monday it isn't clear if or when Martin might be extradited.
     
    At the time, Martin was out on bail pending an appeal of his sentence for an earlier smuggling operation involving his father and brother. He nevertheless managed to use a front company registered in his wife's name to lease helicopters that were used to ferry loads of marijuana and MDMA south to remote forests in Washington state and northern Idaho, and shipments of cocaine back into British Columbia.
     
    In a 2009 interview with The Associated Press, Martin acknowledged obtaining the helicopters: "Sure, I have a past, but those charges were a decade ago," he said. "If you have the money and you want to get into a helicopter business, you can — doesn't matter who that individual is."
     
    One participant told authorities they brought more than 650 pounds of cocaine into Canada every week. The cocaine was typically driven from the Los Angeles area.
     
    One pilot, 24-year-old Sam Lindsay-Brown, committed suicide in the Spokane County Jail after he flew into a setup and was met by DEA agents in early 2009.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Donald Trump Postpones Planned Trip To Israel, Says He'll Reschedule 'After I Become President'

    Donald Trump Postpones Planned Trip To Israel, Says He'll Reschedule 'After I Become President'
    WASHINGTON — Republican Donald Trump has scrapped a planned trip to Israel, saying he will reschedule "at a later date after I become President of the U.S."

    Donald Trump Postpones Planned Trip To Israel, Says He'll Reschedule 'After I Become President'

    Obama Signs Education Law Rewrite Shifting Power To States, Calls It A 'Christmas Miracle'

    WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has signed into law a major education law setting U.S. public schools on a new course of accountability.

    Obama Signs Education Law Rewrite Shifting Power To States, Calls It A 'Christmas Miracle'

    India, Pakistan To Commence Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue

    India, Pakistan To Commence Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue
    India and Pakistan, during talks between Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistani prime minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz here on Wednesday, agreed to commence comprehensive bilateral dialogue.

    India, Pakistan To Commence Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue

    Group That Touts Conspiracies About Islam Behind Donald Trump's Statistics On Muslims

    Group That Touts Conspiracies About Islam Behind Donald Trump's Statistics On Muslims
    NEWARK, N.J. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has cited several statistics from a "highly respected" group to justify his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country.

    Group That Touts Conspiracies About Islam Behind Donald Trump's Statistics On Muslims

    Donald Trump Stands By His Proposal To Ban Muslims From Entering US, Despite Widespread Outrage

    Donald Trump Stands By His Proposal To Ban Muslims From Entering US, Despite Widespread Outrage
    NEWARK, N.J. — Congressmen, rival candidates, world leaders and even the creators of Harry Potter and "The Shining" all agree: Donald Trump's call to block Muslims from entering the United States goes too far.

    Donald Trump Stands By His Proposal To Ban Muslims From Entering US, Despite Widespread Outrage

    German Leader Angela Merkel Named Time Magazine's Person Of The Year

    German Leader Angela Merkel Named Time Magazine's Person Of The Year
    NEW YORK — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named Time's Person of the Year, praised Wednesday by the magazine for her leadership on everything from Syrian refugees to the Greek debt crisis.

    German Leader Angela Merkel Named Time Magazine's Person Of The Year