Wednesday May 14, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
What a scream Kira Hyam gets a colourful surprise and has some fun during Salmon Arm Secondary’s grad street painting event that took place at the Sullivan Campus on May 7. The next grad event will be a fundraising car wash at Xcalibur Kawasaki on May 24.
Chelsea GrainGer/oBServer
Martin to be extradited Courts: Shuswap man facing drug conspiracy charges in the U.S. By Tim Petruk KAMlooPS THIS WeeK
A Shuswap man alleged by American authorities to have been the kingpin of a cross-border drug-smuggling ring will be sent to the u.S. to stand trial on conspiracy charges. In B.c. Supreme court in Kamloops on Friday, May 9, colin Martin was committed for extradition to Seattle, where American prosecutors have charged him with conspiracy to traffic in marijuana, cocaine and MdMA. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period before surrender. Martin was taken into custody following a decision by Justice William ehrcke, but he is eligible to apply for bail. Martin’s lawyer, eric Purtzki, said a decision on a potential appeal of the extradi-
tion order has not yet been made. “I am satisfied that the evidence … discloses a case that would qualify for his committal to trial in canada,” ehrcke said in his decision. “I order that he be committed into custody to prepare for surrender.” The two-day extradition hearing heard a summary of the evidence American authorities have on Martin, who is from Malakwa, and his alleged involvement in a large-scale drug-trafficking ring that saw marijuana and MdMA shipped by helicopter to remote locations in northern Idaho and Washington state in exchange for cocaine, money and firearms. u.S. authorities allege Martin would hire people in B.c. to load the helicopters with as much as $5 million worth of marijuana or MdMA, then pay pilots to fly the choppers to pre-determined locations across the
This week In an exciting play-off game against Rutland, the Jewels win in overtime. Check out A17. Just for Kicks dance students put their talents on display. Check out the images on A19.
u.S.-canada border. The haul of B.c. bud or pills would allegedly be unloaded by a ground crew in the u.S., and cocaine, firearms and money would be loaded into the helicopter for transport back to canada. According to federal crown prosecutor Andrew Majawa, Martin’s crews made approximately three cross-border trips every two weeks. The smuggling operation is linked to the February 2009 death of Samuel lindsayBrown. The 24-year-old nelson native was piloting one of the choppers linked to the smuggling ring and was arrested after landing with 400 pounds of marijuana in WashSee Dea on page A2
Dave eaGles/KAMlooPS THIS WeeK
hearing: Colin Martin heads into court in Kamloops. A judge ordered he be sent to the U.S. to face charges.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A15-A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A22 Time Out................... A23 Vol. 107, No. 20, 44 pages