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Pot smuggling case set over

A Squamish man and two other B.C. men who pleaded guilty to charges related to the smuggling of marijuana across the U.S. border have had their sentencing hearing set over until April 14.

A Squamish man and two other B.C. men who pleaded guilty to charges related to the smuggling of marijuana across the U.S. border have had their sentencing hearing set over until April 14.

Shane Menzel of Pemberton, Jake Humphrey of Squamish and Paul McCluskey of Coquitlam pleaded guilty in late 2005 to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

The three were arrested on Sept. 7, 2005, by authorities who discovered them in a rural area of Skagit County, Washington State, offloading some 123 pounds of marijuana from a helicopter.

Authorities said Menzel was the pilot of the Robinson R-22 helicopter that transported the marijuana.

The three are also charged with conspiracy to import marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana on board an aircraft. Emily Langlie, public affairs officer with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, earlier said that as part of the men's plea agreement, those charges are to be dismissed at the time of sentencing.

The three were scheduled to be sentenced last Friday (March 3), but Langlie said the hearing had been continued and that sentencing would be handed down by U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour on April 14.

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