Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 13

Seattle ICE Agents Arrest Two for Border Ecstasy Smuggling

SEATTLE, Wash. – Two Canadian citizens from the Vancouver area appeared in federal court June 15 to face charges of smuggling ecstasy into the United States following their arrest by ICE agents.

Richard E. Godin, 29, and Ashley Sabeski, 21, were taken into custody after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately 160,000 tablets of the club drug, Ecstasy, concealed under the bedliner of the pickup truck Godin was driving when he and Sabeski entered the United States at the Lynden Port-of-Entry.

“ICE is working closely with its federal and local law enforcement partners to combat the smuggling of dangerous drugs,” said Roy Hoffman, ICE Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge for Blain, Wash. “Those who are involved in this illegal enterprise put their greed ahead of the good of our communities.”

According to court documents, Godin told agents his landlord hired him to drive the truck to Florida to pick up $500,000 in cash, and that he was aware of his landlord’s “illegal activities.” Godin said he was paid $12,000 for the trip and was going to give Sabeski $1,500. Godin also reportedly told agents that this was not his first time running Ecstasy loads.

ICE statistics document steady growth since 2002 in Ecstasy seizures along the Northwest border, with numbers sharply spiking this year. In 2003, 47,686 doses were seized. In 2004, the number rose to 258,026. In the first four months of this year, 465,220 doses were intercepted at the border.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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