News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2008
Contact: Jodie Underwood
Number: (206) 553-5443

Leaders of Canadian Drug Ring Arrested
Kingpin with Hells Angels Ties Arrested in Drug Sting

JUN 6 -- (Seattle, WA) – DEA Special Agent in Charge Arnold R. Moorin and United States Attorney for Western District of Washington Jeffrey Sullivan announced that two Canadian citizens Robert L. Shannon, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia and Devron D. Quast, of Abbotsford, British Columbia were arrested June 5, 2008 in Ferndale, Washington for marijuana and cocaine charges. The three year investigation resulted in the seizure of 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 7,000 pounds of British Columbia marijuana and approximately 3.5 million dollars. To date, 38 subjects have been charged, twelve of which are Canadian Nationals.

According to the indictment, Shannon was responsible for the distribution and smuggling of the drugs on behalf of the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Club and others. The drugs were concealed inside hollowed out logs on trucks, within the false walls of cargo containers and vehicles, within loads of commercial lumber and beauty bark, inside large PVC pipes, and within the interior of a propane tanker. Additionally, drugs were transported by smugglers on foot between the Canada and the United States. QUAST oversaw daily operations of the drug transportation, which included providing assurance to the Canadian suppliers that the drugs would be successfully smuggled into the United States.

On June 5, 2008, Shannon, Quast and two others were arrested after they attempted to smuggle British Columbia into the United States. Additionally, law enforcement seized $50,000 in United States Currency and hundreds of pounds of British Columbia marijuana.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration Customs Enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.