Quebec man accused of smuggling cows into U.S.;

[HAY MAKER]

Quebec man accused of smuggling cows into U.S.; violates ban on Canadian cattle


SYRACUSE, N.Y., Mar 16, 2005 (The Canadian Press via COMTEX) -- U.S. federal authorities have charged two men with smuggling banned Canadian cattle into the United States.

A federal grand jury indictment accused Louis R. Jacobs of Snye, Que., and Andrew J. Derouchie of Fort Covington, N.Y., of illegally bringing six cows into the United States last Aug. 25, U.S. Attorney Glenn Suddaby said Tuesday.

The importation of cattle and cattle products has been prohibited under U.S. federal regulation since May 2003 because of concern over bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called mad cow disease.

The U.S. government took the action after the discovery of an infected cow at a commercial farm in northern Alberta.

Authorities seized the six cows as Jacobs and Derouchie were transporting them in a trailer on Route 11 in Canton, N.Y.. The cows were returned to Canadian authorities and destroyed, although no evidence of mad cow disease was found, Suddaby said.

Jacobs and Derouchie were arrested last Friday. They pleaded not guilty and could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 US fine if convicted.

[mwj]

I am sure glad they finally found time to arest them. What would be the holdup if they did it last August.