Helicopter Drug Smuggler Colin Hugh Martin pleads guilty

Canadian Colin Hugh Martin, who ran a high volume helicopter-based drug-smuggling ring for years pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge after losing his extradition fight to the U.S. He faces five to 40 years in prison, though the U.S. Attorney’s Office said it would recommend no more than 10 years when he is sentenced in June.

$1,750,000 luxury home of Colin Hugh Martin.

The 46-year-old admitted he headed a drug ring that flew marijuana and MDMA, or ecstasy, south into Washington state and exchanged it for cocaine, which was then flown north into Canada. Authorities seized more than 220 pounds (100 kg) of cocaine and nearly 600 pounds (270 kg) of marijuana. Then-U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan conceded it was a fraction of the amount smuggled by the group. Martin was indicted in 2009 in Seattle along with five others. One of the pilots, Sam Lindsay Brown, hanged himself in a Spokane jail after being captured during a helicopter drug drop in February 2009. Two weeks later, Kelowna resident Jeremy Snow was also caught flying drugs into Idaho from B.C. After serving a 46-month sentence, he returned to B.C. where he and his girlfriend were shot to death in February 2013.

They were found dead in West Kelowna after her Cadillac Escalade crashed outside the luxury condo complex where she lived. Police said the two were already dead when the black SUV hit a lamp standard that night. No arrests have been made in their murders.

Tiffany June Goruk