Fourteen Cornwall-area drug suspects could be extradited to U.S.

Fourteen Cornwall-area drug suspects could be extradited to U.S.

Fourteen suspects arrested in the Cornwall-area are facing extradition to the United States.

The group was rounded up last week in an RCMP-led operation which is now being overseen by the Federal Department of Justice. A 15th suspect was arrested in Gatineau, and is going through the court process in Quebec.

The individuals are wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on drug-related offences. Two of the accused, Michael “Mickey” Woods and Gaetan Dinelle, both of Cornwall, are alleged to have run an international marijuana smuggling operation some four years ago.

Reportedly as much as 10,000 kg of pot was moved through Akwesasne to various American cities. The DEA had been working the case for three years. Woods is accused of running the operation and Dinelle is accused of being another architect of the deals. The pair eluded charges until last week’s arrests.

A Cornwall courtroom was packed with family members this week, many of whom were there to post bond and cash deposits for some of the suspects. Eight of the accused were released on conditions and will return to court Sept. 6.

As the court reviewed upcoming bail hearing dates for the other six suspects, an interim publication ban was granted by the court until the first bail proceedings on Friday morning.

Woods will be in court July 18 while Dinelle will appear on July 20, both for bail hearings.

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