SURREY CATTLE-TRUCK OPERATOR FACES JAIL FOR POT TRANSPORT

Driver Gleads Guilty, Says He Was Forced Into Act Because Of Debt To
Government

Another Metro Vancouver man could be facing some stiff jail time south
of the border after pleading guilty to trucking 800 kilos of marijuana
into Washington state.

Edwin Roy Fuller, 40, of Surrey, was caught with the pot under the
floor of a cattle trailer at the Sumas border crossing on Feb. 17.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in jail
and a maximum 40-year sentence and $2 million US fine.

Fuller had about two dozen head of cattle in a trailer behind his 2003
Peterbilt tractor when Customs and Border Protection inspectors
noticed a discrepancy in the floor of the trailer.

They told Fuller to return to Canada to unload the livestock in a
holding area so they could further inspect the vehicle.

An X-ray revealed the marijuana hidden under the floor.

The U.S. government seized the tractor and wants it permanently
forfeited.

When Fuller was interviewed by United States agents, he admitted he
knew the pot was there and that he had made cross-border marijuana
runs a couple of times for $20,000 a trip.

"Fuller said he was supposed to deliver the cattle to 'Shanks' in
Stanwood, Wash.," court documents say. "He said that after the cows
were dropped off, he would wash out the trailer and usually receive a
phone call."

He claimed that he did not know for whom he was working and that he
was forced to do the smuggling because "he owed money to the
government."

The agents asked Fuller to make the delivery as planned and co-operate
with them in the investigation.

However, he refused, saying "they probably already knew there was a
problem."

The pot was estimated to be worth more than $7 million
Cdn.

Fuller will be sentenced July 17.