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Buzzby

Gang Forced Me To Smuggle Pot, Customs Officer Says
Darah Hansen & Jennifer Miller | Vancouver Sun | 05/05/2005

A Canadian customs officer accused of trying to smuggle 100 kilograms of marijuana across the border at Blaine, Wash., claims he was transporting the drugs "because Indo-Canadian gangsters had threatened his family," according to a statement sworn before a U.S. judge Wednesday.

Altaf Merali, a 37-year-old Surrey resident, is charged under U.S. federal law with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of five years behind bars, with a maximum of 40 years and a $2-million fine.

Merali made his first appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle Wednesday, and will remain in jail pending the results of a bail hearing, scheduled for Monday, May 9. Following Wednesday's court appearance, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jennings said it is "unfortunate when a person in a position of trust like a customs officer betrays that trust."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities estimate the value of the marijuana at $680,000 US.

A statement sworn in the Seattle court by Jacob Black, special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says the marijuana was discovered early Tuesday afternoon.

The discovery was made after a U.S. customs computer "randomly selected" a GMC Safari van driven by Merali for a secondary customs search.

With his Canada Customs uniform hanging in a rear window, Merali had earlier "flashed" his customs badge to a U.S. customs officer and stated he was coming to visit an area director for United States Customs and Border Protection, according to Black's statement.

Once inside the port of entry, Merali allegedly took a border guard aside and told him he was transporting marijuana.

Special agents Black and Andrew Poore were quickly called in from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to Black's statement, Merali allegedly told the agents that a man in his south Surrey neighbourhood and another known to him only as "Sam" had recruited him in November to smuggle marijuana south across the border and bring cocaine back into Canada. Merali said the neighbour had repeatedly tried to set up smuggling trips, but Merali kept backing out, stating he was "scared."

At that point, according to court documents, Sam told Merali he was "in too deep," adding, "if he kept backing out of deals, the people in the organization would hurt Merali's family."

Merali allegedly told the agents the day he was arrested was his first smuggling trip.

A second man -- 20-year-old Jason Dean Smith of Stanwood, Wash. -- was arrested in connection with the marijuana at a McDonald's restaurant near Bellis Fair Mall. Earlier, Merali allegedly told the agents he was to deliver the marijuana to a man wearing a red baseball cap at that location. The agents arrested Smith as he tried to flee the scene in a white Cadillac Escalade.

On Wednesday, Patrick Higgins, public affairs officer with the Canadian consulate in Seattle, said his office is aware of Merali's case "and the consulate does have a role to play."

Higgins said a consular officer has been assigned to the case. The officer is "not an attorney," Higgins said. "[His] role is to make sure that the Canadian citizen is aware of anything they need to be aware of as they're moving through these processes down here."

North of the border, Paula Shore, Canadian Border Services Agency spokeswoman, confirmed Merali is a CBSA employee, but refused to comment on his job title or description, nor would she say how long Merali has been with the agency.

"We don't discuss employee-employer relationships," Shore said.

Merali is described as a "customs officer" in documents filed with the New Westminster land title office. A property search showed Merali and his wife, teacher Jennifer Merali, recently built a single-family home in a newly developed neighbourhood on 150A Street in Surrey. The value of the property is listed at $439,000. The couple recently celebrated the birth of their second child, a boy. They also have a four-year-old son.

Neighbours were shocked to hear of Merali's arrest. Bill Warchol, who lives across the street from the Meralis' large, two-storey home, described Altaf -- known as "Al" -- Merali as a "nice" guy, adding he is captain of the neighbourhood Block Watch program.

In Coquitlam, where Merali and his wife lived prior to moving to Surrey earlier this year, Colin Campbell said he was "almost in tears" to learn the man accused in the smuggling was his friend and former next-door neighbour, Al Merali.

"I'm sick. I'm absolutely sick," Campbell said. "He's a fabulous guy."

Campbell, a criminology teacher at Douglas College, said Merali was a frequent guest speaker in his class as a representative of the Canadian Border Services Agency and would actively recruit students to become customs officers. "He was very proud of what he did," Campbell said.

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Buzzby

I'm wondering how anyone could afford to build a $440,000 home on a teacher's and a customs officer's salary. Could it be that they had some outside income?

Cassius

It's possible that they had a trust fund or some other source of income that the reporters didn't dig out (or didn't publish), but I think it's more likely that you're right. I doubt that it was his "first smuggling trip".

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frolic

One of the things that helped end prohibition was the crackdown of the raketeering that undermined law enforcement. The opportunity for poor cops to supplement their income became standard, as it does now with marijuana, prohibition supports criminal activity.

Even when the prohibition ended for alcohol the criminal networks continued to exist and influence police procedures. Directed enforcement of marijuana laws has been the whipstick for chastizing popular americans who challenged Christian Morals; as does Jazz music, Hollywood, immigrants and people of color (http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group...m_format=print).

Their crimes, mostly of possession, pale in comparison with Reagan's Contra Affair (http://www.sdpjc.org/Data/Articles/NorthArtI.htm); but times change and we have short memories. Yet, as marijuana remains in legal limbo those opposing marijuana will use law enforcement to bolster criminal profiles.

cepheus

it is pretty curious isnt it? maybe he got an inheritance or went into massive debt to build his house....or maybe he smuggles marijuana.

and what's up with this computer "randomly" selecting vehicles to search? i had no idea this technique was used. anyone have further information about these computers? it sounds interesting.

haha, 20 year old driving an Escalade, yep, this guy is a dealer, or an extremely spoiled kid. but this doesnt make sense, is it legal to arrest someone when a transaction hasn't even occured? anyways, Meralis is a b**** for narking this dude anyways

 

ganja22

yo bottom line he broke the law he should go to jail.

TNTMagicHerb

Yes he can still be charged in conspiracy to commit a felony. Even though the buy didnt actually occur, if he had the means to do so he could still be brought up on charges. He would have had to have cash or someother drug for trade such as the cocaine he spoke of returning to canada with. This is the part of our system I despise. Anymore you dont even have to participate in the crime and can still be charged as if you were the one whose possesion it was in. Our system expects you to be a "Rat" and if you dont they will charge you with conspiracy. What ever happened to being innocent until proven guilty? We are guilty until proven guilty unless you have a high power lawyer which 90% of americans cannot afford. Welcome to Singapore!

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Buzzby

Without conspiracy laws, high level criminals would never be brought to justice. They don't participate in the physical part of the crime at all. To be found guilty of conspiracy there must be sufficient evidence to that effect to obtain a conviction. You're still innocent until proven guilty.

TNTMagicHerb

I can totally understand why we have conspiracy laws in place. I just believe that our justice system is setup for the rich to be innocent no matter what and the ability for a innocent man with a state appointed attorney to get a fair trial being very difficult as they have nothing riding on whether or not the suspect is convicted and are usually the ones that are straight out of law school. Not just that but to have a case overturned for reasons of unexceptable representation are nearly impossible without a vast knowledge of the law.

Buzzby

In a society ruled by money, it stands to reason that you get that for which you can afford to pay. Poor people don't have the best cars, the best clothes, the best houses, the best medical care, the best food, or the best schools. Why would anyone imagine that they would get the best legal representation?

In a society ruled by money you get all the justice you can pay for.

What are you, some kinda commie?