POLICE TARGET DRUG TRADE'S BIG FISH

A raid on a Chestnut Avenue crack shack is part of a larger
investigation aimed at taking down key figures in the city's criminal
underworld, police said Wednesday.

"We're talking about some very significant players bringing some very
large amounts of drugs into the city. Chestnut is just one player in
the grand scheme of things," said RCMP Insp. Yves Lacasse.

Lacasse showed items 20 members of the Emergency Response Team found
in the house Saturday night. Several handguns, rifles, shotguns and a
replica AK-47 assault rifle were displayed next to piles of $100, $20
and U.S. bills totalling $40,000.

Drugs seized include 728 marijuana plants worth $365,000 and 3.2
kilograms of cocaine worth $240,000. Officers also found ecstasy pills
and crystal meth.

The raid was the result of five months of investigative work by
plainclothes and undercover officers. Nine men face charges of
possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Six face
trafficking charges. One could be charged with possession of marijuana.

Some suspects were arrested at other locations. Two men and a woman
were arrested during the raid. A man and woman face charges of
possession of stolen property and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Lacasse said drug activity is all too common in Kamloops. In 2005,
police initiated 1,264 investigations. In 2006, officers opened 1,576
files, an increase of 25 per cent.

"We've been here before and seen what is on this table. . . . This is
still our No. 1 strategic priority," Lacasse said.

"What we have is a very proactive, aggressive team of investigators
prepared to do whatever they can to make it difficult for these people
to conduct illegal activities in Kamloops."

Lacasse defended how long it took to strike at Chestnut, saying it
takes time to gather evidence, build a case and acquire search warrants.

He said police can't focus all their energy on one house. There are
other crack houses and people at work bringing drugs and weapons into
the city.

Chestnut residents filed 43 complaints with Kamloops RCMP in nine
months. Lacasse said they likely haven't seen the last drug
transaction at the residence.

"We will continue to monitor the house," he said.