Sam Brown Remembered - Drug Smuggling - TMTV News Kootenays

TMTV Nelson BC Canada - March 25, 2009 TMTV for CBC TV

STORY: Friends who knew the B.C. pilot who was caught flying a helicopter carrying 150 kilograms of marijuana into the U.S. say he was spirited young man mixed up in the wrong crowd.

Samuel Brown, 24, was arrested on allegations he attempted to drop off the huge load of B.C. bud in Washington state.

He was charged and held at the Spokane County jail, but reportedly hanged himself with bed sheets from his cell on Feb. 27.

Upon hearing the news of Brown's suicide, friends rallied around the Revelstoke, B.C., native, fondly remembering him as a soft-spoken adventure seeker.

"I can't believe that a kid with so much life force would do something like that.... It was shocking," John Buffery said.

Mitch Scott, another friend, said Brown was a popular man who had dreams of starting his own helicopter business.
Mitch Scott (left) and John Buffery remembered their friend as a gentle spirit who was always in search of an adventure.

"He had a lot to live for. He was very popular kid around town. I think he had big dreams of doing really cool things."

All were unwavering in their belief that Brown was not involved with gangs.

"Sam, in my mind, wasn't this felon in the United States," Buffery said. "Sam Brown was a kid we hung out with who was really fun to be around, and it's shocking, a really sad thing."

Brown's father was too distraught to speak on Tuesday, but he told the Nelson Daily News last week that his son was used as a pawn in the cross-border drug deal and that he took the fall for somebody else.

In total, eight people were arrested and now seven face charges after police broke up the cross-border drug smuggling operation, which used helicopters to fly marijuana and ecstasy to remote U.S. landing pads in exchange for cocaine and cash.

Police seized about 340 kg of marijuana, 83 kg of cocaine and 240,000 ecstasy tablets, plus a significant amount of cash, guns, two helicopters and other equipment, officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the RCMP said at a joint news conference in Seattle on Tuesday morning.

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[cancanbiker]

Legalize and their wouldnt be any money in it. Is it a coincidence drugs are worth more money illegal then legal. Weed has killed no one and theres 500,000 deaths a year in America from tobacco. Government isnt protecting anyone. Sam got caught up in a big game, I still dont feel sorry for his decisions but it doesnt take a smart person to see we will never do without the market place for drugs, I feel sorry for another wasted life as a result of the drug war.

[ranchy888]

That sucks, man. Why did the dude have to kill himself?

[210482fmj]

I don't trust the official news sotires one bit. THis guy could of been innocent and may not of had any weed on his helicopter. THe dea may of layed a trap posing as suppliers which is pretty dirty corruption. ALso is what said what really happened to this poor guy inside that godforsaken country jail. COuld it of been made to look like a suicide. Paperwork could of been falsified and all sorts. THe government are way over the top on people.

[Loony0Bin]

@timmyx4 Not true, I smoke weed most days, currently am working on my marijuana dependence which has had positive and negative effects on me, and have seen two people go crazy from smoking marijuana.

It's not about that though, it's about the Government not having the right to tell me what I can and can't put in my body, as long as I am non violent and don't harm others.

For me it's also about the Government making nature illegal. That is pure evil and pure arrogance.

[Loony0Bin]

@MrJonez68 He got what deserved? They shouldn't be illegal in the first place!!

He got what he deserved? No non violent offender deserves to be stuffed in over crowded prison cells, that only exist so rich fucks can profit off the incarceration of others!

You deserve a swift slap in the face for that comment. What an insult!

[MisterBicycle]

@MrJonez68 wow... judge much?

[pandacrunch]

@MrJonez68 Okay so everyone involved in the illegal drug trade is automatically bad and bad people deserve to die? Ever thought that its bad laws that make bad people? The marijuana laws simply don't work. How would you like to see your son or father or brother's life come to a tragic end and then see some inconsiderate shithead on the internet bash him with an ignorant half-wit remark. What a nice way to remember someone.

[210482fmj]

once authorites get hold of people they can pretty much do anything to a person and snatch their life away. look how many people they have framed. we still dont know what really happened with this guy. you cannot beleive what the tell you. did the dea frame this guy

[MrJonez68]

Being a "kid we hung out with...(who) was really fun" doesn't change the fact that he was trafficking an illegal substance across the border.

He got what he deserved. Hopefully all illegal, Canadian border crossers / drug traffickers will be dealt the same fate.

[IPiMpiNI]

its sad that mary jane was a victim here

[210482fmj]

we should forgive people for stuff like this

[210482fmj]

i don't beleive in locking a person up in a cell unless they have done something extreme. flying some bud is hardly an extreme act. we should be helping one another not locking each other away.