Alleged B.C. gang leader pleads not guilty

The alleged leader of a brazen British Columbia gang involved in one of the largest cross-border smuggling cases ever has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a massive airborne cross-border drug-smuggling operation broken up by the feds two years ago.

Clay Roueche appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida in Seattle to answer three felony charges that could land him in prison for at least 10 years, and maybe life.

The judge ordered him held pending a detention hearing next week. He set a trial date in Aug. 4.

Roueche's arrest in Texas last week made headlines in Canada, where the "United Nations Gang" is known for its ethnic diversity, garish tattoos, jewelry and violence.

"There have been a number of suspected gang-related shootings and killings here over the past couple of years, and we strongly believe the U.N. Gang is involved," said Sgt. Bill Whalen of British Columbia's Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

A suspected U.N. Gang member, Duane Meyers, was shot to death in Abbotsford, B.C., last month, according to Canadian news reports.

While Canada has been running a separate investigation into Roueche's activities, Whalen said, his arrest May 21 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport stems from a Seattle federal grand-jury indictment issued last year and alleging Roueche's involvement in "Operation Frozen Timber."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Roe declined to say what role Roueche and his gang allegedly played in the smuggling operation.

Nearly five years ago, U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officers undertook a two-year investigation that revealed a sophisticated drug-smuggling operation involving independent "brokers" using airplanes and helicopters to fly tons of drugs through the passes of the North Cascades into the U.S. The operation, touted by the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security, netted four tons of marijuana, 800 pounds of cocaine and $1.5 million in cash. More than 45 people were arrested.

Roueche and eight others named in the indictment are variously charged with conspiracy to distribute quantities of cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

Roueche was arrested by immigration agents in Dallas after he had flown from Canada to Mexico, but was refused entry into that country, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Roe. The plane returned to Dallas and he was arrested when it landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com