Drug smuggler avoids jail after striking deal - Winnipeg Free Press: "Dean Chyzy, 33, pleaded guilty Monday to shipping huge volumes of raw ephedrine, which is a prime ingredient in the creation of highly-addictive crystal methamphetamine. He was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day under a joint-recommendation from Crown and defence lawyers.
'This has been an incredibly emotional and frustrating experience,' defence lawyer Ian Garber told court in describing the resolution to a case which has spent nearly six years dragging through the courts. 'This matter has taken forever.'
More than 80 people were indicted in the case in Canada, California and Mexico after more than 250 police officers conducted 34 raids in September 2004. RCMP in Winnipeg held a news conference the day after, saying they seized 9,000 kilograms of ephedrine, worth an estimated $14.5 million on the street as meth, along with $3.5 million cash. A total of 10 Manitobans were arrested.
It was alleged the ephedrine was legally imported into Canada through a Thunder Bay, Ont., company, but was soon diverted to the black market. Ephedrine is banned in the United States, while Health Canada regulates its sale in this country. Much of the ephedrine was ultimately smuggled into the United States to methamphetamine labs run by the Mexican Mafia."
'This has been an incredibly emotional and frustrating experience,' defence lawyer Ian Garber told court in describing the resolution to a case which has spent nearly six years dragging through the courts. 'This matter has taken forever.'
More than 80 people were indicted in the case in Canada, California and Mexico after more than 250 police officers conducted 34 raids in September 2004. RCMP in Winnipeg held a news conference the day after, saying they seized 9,000 kilograms of ephedrine, worth an estimated $14.5 million on the street as meth, along with $3.5 million cash. A total of 10 Manitobans were arrested.
It was alleged the ephedrine was legally imported into Canada through a Thunder Bay, Ont., company, but was soon diverted to the black market. Ephedrine is banned in the United States, while Health Canada regulates its sale in this country. Much of the ephedrine was ultimately smuggled into the United States to methamphetamine labs run by the Mexican Mafia."
