Seven B.C. men have been sentenced in a Washington state court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada and the U.S.

Seven B.C. men have been sentenced in a Washington state court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada and the U.S.

The conspiracy — which U.S. prosecutors said was tied to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang — saw marijuana shipped south in plumbing pipe, hollowed out logs, wood chips and hidden compartments in tractor-trailer trucks.

In sentencing Jody York, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik said the smuggling operation had a terrible impact on B.C. and part of the U.S. and it's the children who suffer when communities are riddled with violence.

York, 36, and Edward Russell were considered the managers of the drug group and were both given more than 4½ years in prison, while five other B.C. men were given sentenced ranging from one-year in jail to probation.

The case involved a three-year investigation that saw 54 people charged, thousands of kilograms of marijuana and cocaine seized along with millions in cash.

Forty-eight people have been convicted, including the ring leader, Rob Shannon of Langley, B.C., who was given a 20-year prison term.

Two pipe bombs, pistols and rifles were found during police raids on gang pads

Operation Explorer saw two properties raided in Auckland and a major bust in Nelson on the Red Devils, the puppet gang for the Australian-based Hells Angels biker gang.

Police said that two "professionally made" pipe bombs were found at a house in the coastal village of Mapua at the top of the South Island.

The devices could have caused serious damage, Tasman area police commander Gary Knowles said.

"We're still trying to determine what they were going to do with the explosive devices," he said.

"The worrying thing thing is that they had created these and that they were prepared to use them."

The undercover operation had been running for 18 months and was one of the deepest gang infiltrations in the history of the New Zealand Police.

Twenty search warrants were executed in properties in the Nelson area earlier today, with 28 people arrested and drugs, weapons, cash and other property including 11 motorbikes seized.

Drugs including methamphetamine and LSD were also found.

Dozens of police officers flew into Nelson on a Defence Force plane this morning ahead of the raids.

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A police bulldozer demolished the front entrance to the Red Devils' pad in Nelson's Natalie St.

Tasman Police District Commander Gary Knowles said the operation had produced significant evidence to support the police stance over the past two years that the gang's primary focus was organised crime.

He said the evidence also confirmed the gang's relationship with the Hells Angels. Membership of the gang has risen from four to nine, police said.

"We never thought for a moment these were just good old boys on motorbikes, despite what their supporters and legal representatives tried to present them as," Superintendent Knowles said.

The operation involved the NZ Defence Force, NZ Customs and the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand (OFCANZ).

Last month, 30 people were arrested in an operation focused on the Rebels motorbike gang, which is a major player in Australia's methamphetamine market.

Police said the Red Devils gang was networking with the Rebels.

The headquarters of the Hells Angels gang in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden today was raided today as part of the operation.

Police suspect a tattoo parlour sprayed with bullets overnight may be linked to the Hells Angels bikie gang.

Police suspect a tattoo parlour sprayed with bullets overnight may be linked to the Hells Angels bikie gang.
A masked man fired five shots through the front entrance of Tattoo World at Baulkham Hills around 2.30am (AEDT) this morning, before driving off in a small hatchback.
Inspector Paul Tickner says police are investigating reports of gang-related activity at the parlour.
"We're looking to see whether it has any links to the Hells Angels," he said.
"It's a bit unconfirmed and a bit early in the investigation to say whether they are affiliated to that group or not."
No one was inside the shop at the time.

massive international drug smuggling ring linked to the Hells Angels.

York, Russell, Bryan Hanna, Brian Stone, Frederick Davey, Andrew Hall and Darrin Hotner all pleaded guilty and voluntarily delivered themselves to U.S. officials without lengthy extradition battles.

Despite admitting to crimes that originated in Canada, they have not faced charges in the same conspiracy case on the northern side of the border.

So why would Canadians admit guilt in another country and surrender themselves to accept U.S. jail terms, which seem lengthy by Canadian standards?

It's simple, according to University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas.

They fear the U.S. judicial system and want to make sure they get the best deal they can once they know they're indicted.

York and Russell both admitted they transported major shipments of B.C. bud across the border for years using a range of sophisticated schemes -- including semi-trailers with hidden compartments, hollowed-out logs on flat decks, motor homes, inside PVC sewer pipes, and buried in truckloads of bark.

Both are longtime associates of Rob Shannon, an Abbotsford native arrested in June 2008 after crossing the border to meet with an undercover agent he thought was a willing associate.

Shannon also pleaded guilty to a series of drug charges and landed a 20-year sentence in March 2009.

York and Russell, indicted last fall, ended up with sentences of just five years and four and a half years respectively.

Plecas said they got "a gift."

"Five years sounds wonderful when they could be doing 20-plus," he said.

The U.S. government said in its sentencing documents that the B.C. men got a break in part because they pleaded guilty and because bringing them "to justice in both in either Canada or the United States has been a challenge and was never guaranteed."

"Given the time that has passed between the offence conduct and today, and [their] anticipated voluntary appearance in the Western District of Washington for resolution of this matter at sentencing, the United States respectfully suggests that the appropriate term of imprisonment falls well below the applicable guideline range," the document said.

Offers too good to refused

Seven men from BC with connections to the Hells Angels, were sentenced, today

Seven men from BC with connections to the Hells Angels, were sentenced, today, in a Washington State courtroom for their involvment in a massive cross-border drug smuggling ring.
 
The men received sentences varying in length from probation and community service all the way up to 59 months behind bars.
 
The master mind of the operation, Rob Shannon, was handed a 20-year sentence, in March of 2009.
 
Shannon and co-conspirator Devron Quast were arrested back in 2008 after a three year joint RCMP--DEA investigation.
 
The scheme involved BC bud heading south stashed in pvp pipe, hollowed out logs, and hidden compartments of tractor trailers, in exchange for high grade cocaine crossing into Canada.
 
In all, 54 people have been charged, 28 of them Canadian.

POLICE admitted letting up to 40 Hells Angels bikies drive recklessly

POLICE admitted letting up to 40 Hells Angels bikies drive recklessly because too many officers went to the NZ quake.

Victoria Police said it "witnessed several riders breaking road rules" but did not take action because they did not have enough officers.

Instead, police tried to "provide a safe environment for other road users".

But a motorist who was run off the road said three officers in pursuit were driving more dangerously than the "suicidal behaviour" of the bikies.

"I was driving on cruise control at 100km/h but the Hells Angels bikies thundered past me like I was standing still," Grant, 42, from Melbourne said.

"They were overtaking on double white lines into the face of oncoming traffic, around blind bends and over the brow of a hill.


"It was bloody suicidal behaviour. They were missing cars by inches."

The incident happened on the Melbourne-Lancefield Rd, near Clarkefield, about 1pm on February 26. Grant, who does not want his surname published, said it was the police driving that nearly killed him and his wife.

"Two cars were following the group and travelling just as fast, tailgating me because they couldn't get past," he said.

"One of the cars overtook me on double lines and on a blind bend. It was only then I realised it was the police - it was unmarked and didn't have its lights going and I just thought it was part of the bikie gang. As the second car overtook me, again just as dangerous, the first car came to a complete halt in the middle of the road.

"The car was only about five car-lengths ahead of me. I had to brake really hard and swerve off the road to avoid smashing into the back of him. It was ridiculously irresponsible."

Grant stopped and spoke to the police, who had now been joined by a uniformed officer on a marked police motorbike.

The police car had stopped suddenly because the bikies had turned sharply into a side road and the police had missed the turning.

But when Grant asked why they had not stopped the dangerous bikie driving, the officers said they were "tasked to follow only".

And when Grant offered to give a statement, they refused, saying "we won't be booking anyone".

A police spokesman confirmed that, saying its resources were depleted when 100 officers were despatched to Christchurch to help following the earthquake.

"Police witnessed several riders breaking road rules but the priority at the time was to provide a safe environment for other road users.

"Police are currently reviewing all incidences regarding breaches of road traffic laws to determine whether further action should be taken."

Grant said he was "appalled and disgusted."

"My wife and I could have died that day.

"The bikie behaviour was terrifying, but in my eyes the police were worse because they didn't have their lights or sirens on and drove like maniacs.

"I expect them to keep me safe on the road - but not only were they not keeping the law - they were making it potentially deadly for me.

"Victoria Police needs to be answerable for what they did. I'm still shaken up by it and not having enough police is not a good enough answer."

Seven British Columbian men have been sentenced in a Washington State court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada and the United States.

Seven British Columbian men have been sentenced in a Washington State court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada and the United States.

The conspiracy -- which U.S. prosecutors say was tied to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang -- saw marijuana shipped south in PVC pipe, hollowed out logs, wood chips and hidden compartments in tractor-trailer trucks.

In sentencing 36-year-old Jody York, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik said the smuggling operation had a terrible impact on British Columbia and part of the U.S. and it's the children who suffer when communities are riddled with violence.

York and Edward Russell were considered the managers of the drug group and were both given more than four-and-a-half years in prison, while five other B.C. men were given sentenced ranging from one-year in jail to probation.

The case involved a three-year investigation that saw 54 people charged, thousands of kilograms of marijuana and cocaine seized along with millions in cash.

Forty-eight people have been convicted, including the ring leader, Rob Shannon of Langley, B.C., who was given a 20-year jail term.