SEATTLE -- Federal prosecutors and the Drug Enforcement Administration opened their evidence vault for KING 5 News, giving a rare insight into a high flying drug smuggling ring which crashed and burned.
The sophisticated operation orchestrated by the Canadian Hells Angels relied on a fleet of small airplanes and a team of pilots to ferry B.C. Bud across the U.S.
The marijuana was dropped by helicopter onto the American side of the border and then sold, used to buy cocaine which then was smuggled back to Canada and sold at a hefty profit.
The feds say they were able to put an undercover agent in the organization who posed as a pilot eager to make fast cash by shuttling small planes with huge loads of pot.
Two men Brandon Parker and Glen Stewart are awaiting sentencing for their part in the operation.
23 people in all were indicted, with similar cases being prosecuted by the Crown in Canada.
