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JANUARY 11, 1998
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Three North Vari men charged in bust
Anna Marie D'Angelo

News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.cam

A two-year Vancouver RCMP undercover investigation
has resulted in charges against a North Vancouver man

for allegedly attempting to import cocaine through
Colombia and Mexico.

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cl Sale, 50. who lived in the 700 block of Fdgewood Road in] Upper
Capilano, is charged with conspiracy to traffic and import cocaine, according to
the Vancouver RCMP Driig Section

Iwo other North Vancouver resi
1800-block of Belle fsle and Paul Sea
are also charged with conspiracy to trattic and inmort cocaine

According to the Vancouver RCMP Drug Section, Sale was the “taeibraror™
who allegedly tried to establish, through his Cofombian and Mexican contacts,
ways to bring cocaine into the Lower Mainland by land, sea and air.

Vancouver RCMIP’s Drug Section seized 24 kilograms of cocaine in the
Province in connection with the investigation.

The cocaine is estimated by police to be worth $480,000,

“We try to de-emphasize looking at the value and look ar the degree to which
these type of enforcement efforts destabilizes drug operations .~ said Set. Russ
Grabb, spokesman for the Vancouver ROMP, which is the headquarters for the
national police force in B.

Grabb said a Whistler resident, Milo Rusimovic, was arrested in California and
charged in connection with the cocaine importation investigation.

The undercover investigation was called “Project Esquire” and invelved police
in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration the Los Angles Impact ‘Team, the
Mexican Federal Police, the Colombian Federal Police, Milton Ontario Drug
Section and the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Section of Vancouver ROMP.
United States Inmmigration and Naturalization Services and Canada Customs staff
were also involved.

The three charged North Vancouver men were slated tor appearances in North
Vancouver provincial court on Friday, according to Vancouver ROMP drug sce-
tion. Police sav more charges may be laid.

Another two-vear Vancouver RCMP drug under cover investigation abe
wrapped up last week.

The investigation called “Project Esigent” resulted nn cocaine conspiracy, traf
ficking and importation charges against cight people. Vancouver ROMP say 462
kilograms of high-grade cocaine valued at $36 mifha: on the street was seized in
Fresno California, Los Angeles and Richmond.

Police also seized 159,000 units of the depressant drug, diazepan, valued at
$3.2 million, $300,000 of American money and vehicles alleged|y used in the drug
trade.

Charged with various counts cf conspiracy, trafficking and importation of
cocaine are: “Vodd Kernan Robinson, 39, of Vancouver, Lindsay Wilham “Lee” ; ees ,
Moti, 39, of Vancouver, Charles Edward Nance, 43, of Richmond, Richard NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge
Grant, 38, of Renton Washington, Patri lesander Le Bling

Jor Vancouver, H d rt h
Jimmy Rodrigues of Los Angeles, Caltrorma and Cal, Cohumbia, Dennis ar cou eroes
Leong. 47,06 V.

acouver and Brent Robinson, 42. of badner
Project Esquire and Project Exigent were offshoots of Proicet EYESPY, a 42 WEST Vancouver's Tyler Galan takes a shot as St. Thomas Aquinas players Greg
month money laundering investigadon setup by Vancouver ROMP ara Burrar Crepnijak (42) and Dan Schnurrenberger (30) hoid their ground during senior boys bas-
Sercet currency excha ‘ge office. ketball action Thursday night at the North Van school. STA won 91-34 in overtime.

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