Colin Martin, accused B.C. drug kingpin ordered extradited to U.S.

Colin Martin, who the U.S. accuses of being the kingpin in a cross-border drug smuggling operation that left two people dead, has been ordered extradited to the United States.

The U.S. claims the Sicamous, B.C. resident organized weekly helicopter flights of B.C. marijuana and ecstasy to remote American landing pads in exchange for cocaine and cash.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration broke up the operation in February 2009, arresting eight people and seizing about 340 kilograms of marijuana, 83 kilograms of cocaine and 240,000 ecstasy tablets.

The drugs were valued between $10 million and $15 million. A significant amount of cash, guns, two helicopters and other equipment was also seized.

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The U.S. indictment also makes an unusual allegation, stating that after the busts, Martin called the DEA and offered to be an informant. The indictment, a public document, states that Martin offered to help them bust "drug lords."

Martin told CBC News soon after the indictment was filed that RCMP officers came to his home and informed him there was a contract out on his life.

A spokesperson for the federal court in Washington state would not comment on why the information was released publicly.

Two of Martin's alleged associates are dead, along with one of their girlfriends.

The same month the drug ring was busted, 24-year-old Sam Brown of Nelson B.C. hanged himself in a U.S. prison after he was caught with a helicopter loaded with drugs.

Last year, 33-year-old Jeremy Snow and his girlfriend Tiffany Goruk, 30, were killed in West Kelowna, B.C.after Snow finished serving time in the U.S. in connection with the same drug bust.