96 ARRESTED IN DRUG-DEALING SWEEP

A Toronto Police crackdown on crack dealers in Parkdale and other
west-end neighbourhoods has so far led to the arrests of 96 people --
who have racked up almost 1,600 prior convictions.

And although it seems like a battle they'll never win, police say
they remain committed to cleaning up troubled areas.

"It's not a losing battle," Det.-Sgt. Ed Roseto said yesterday after
releasing details of the first five weeks of a major undercover
operation targeting street-level drug dealers.

"We're continuing to fight the fight ... we will remain in the area
and keep working at it."

Dubbed Project ICE -- Infiltrate Crack Entrepreneurs -- the operation
involved 14 Division and drug squad officers, among others, in five
areas where residents have complained about trafficking.

Undercover drug squad officers hit the streets in early February in
the neighbourhoods -- Bloor St. W. and Ossington Ave., Bloor St. W.
and Lansdowne Ave., Queen St. W. and Lansdowne Ave., Queen St. W. and
Bathurst St., and King St. W. and Dufferin St.

To date, Roseto said 238 mostly drug-related charges have been
laid.

The arrests led to the seizure of 318 grams of cocaine and crack with
a street value of more than $30,000, 415.48 grams of marijuana worth
$800, and more than $10,000 in alleged drug money.

Hash, Special K, Ecstasy, GHB, LSD and magic mushrooms have also been
taken off the streets.

"We're very happy with the results," drug squad Staff-Insp. Don
Campbell said. "And I'll tell you right now, it's not going to end
here."

But while police are trying to get the drug dealers off the street,
the real difficulty seems to be keeping them off.

Of the 96 accused, Roseto said 45 were out on bail when arrested and
seven were free on two or more bail releases.

Campbell noted that more than 60% of those charged don't live in 14
Division.

"It tells me that people from across the city are going to that area
for the purpose of plying their trade and selling drugs to those who
need it."

Donna Cowan, a resident of the Bloor and Lansdowne area, said she
encounters drug users, dealers and sex-trade workers regularly.

"I drive down my laneway and I brace (myself). I don't know what I'm
going to be confronted by."