SUPREME COURT WILL NOT HEAR APPEAL OF DRUG EXTRADITION

OTTAWA (CP) The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of a
U.S. fugitive fighting extradition to Texas to face drugsmuggling charges.

The high court decision Thursday clears the way for Brian Tilley to be
returned to the United States to face three charges related to his alleged
involvement in a conspiracy to import 250 kilograms of marijuana from
Mexico in 1989.

In June 1996, Tilley told a Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton he could
face a sentence of up to 13 years in Texas. Such a sentence would be
construed as cruel and unusual punishment in Canada, he said.

Justice Joanne Veit rejected his argument, saying Canadian courts should
not try to impose their view of the world on others.

Tilley, a Canadian citizen who has lived most of his adult life in the
United States, was arrested near Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., in April 1985
for running a hightech, $1.8million potgrowing operation. When U.S.
authorities learned of his arrest they began extradition proceedings to get
him back.