BRITISH COLUMBIAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR IMPORTING ECSTASY INTO THE UNITED STATES
LAKHVIR SINGH LALLY,28, of Delta, British Columbia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James L. Robart to 108 months (9 years) in federal prison for importing over 22 kilograms of Ecstasy into the United States.
According to Court records:
a. On May 1, 2004, LALLY entered the United States from Canada at the Pacific Highway Port of Entry at Blaine, Washington, driving a commercial tractor and trailer bearing a British Columbia license plate.
b. Customs and Border Protection Officers searched LALLY'S truck. During the search, the officers discovered a small cardboard box inside of the engine compartment of the tractor. The cardboard box was pressed against the firewall above the frame of the commercial tractor. A bumper guard on the commercial tractor prevented the hood from being fully opened.
c. The cardboard box contained approximately 100,000 multi-colored pills, which weighed approximately 22 kilograms. The pills contained methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and d-methamphetamine, commonly known as "Ecstasy." The illegal load was worth approximately USD$2 million, based on a street value of $20 per tablet.
The federal sentencing system in the United States has abolished parole; thus LALLY'S sentence of 108 months represents the actual time he will serve in the prison, less any credit that he earns while on "good behavior" in prison. Judge Robart also ordered LALLY to pay a fine in the amount of $10,000, as well as a mandatory special assessment of $100 that will be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund.
After LALLY serves his sentence, he likely will be deported to Canada, after which time he will be prohibited from re-entering the United States for any purpose.
United States Attorney John McKay stated "it's not worth the risk to smuggle drugs into the United States. Sooner or later you will get caught and you will spend time in jail."
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Customs Enforcement Division.
For further information, please contact Janet Freeman at (206) 553-7729, or Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's Office, at (206) 553-4110.
