NINE CHARGED OVER DRUG RAID SEIZURES

Police Conduct Four-Month Investigation

Drug investigators have charged nine people and four businesses in
connection with drugs and paraphernalia seized in a series of raids in March.

The four-month undercover investigation by Calgary police targeted
businesses allegedly selling otherwise legal goods knowing they would
be used for drug consumption.

"We have a high-density area of drug use downtown and they're
providing the tools so that addicts can continue their addiction,"
said Staff Sgt. Monty Sparrow of the drug unit.

The owner of one convenience store maintained Tuesday that his
business is doing nothing wrong.

"They're picking on us," said Nasir Hasan of Hop In Hop Out at 123
7th Ave. S.W.

Several shops across the city sell the same kinds of products and
haven't been subject to the same sanction, Hasan said.

"I asked them, and they all display their stuff like this," Hasan
said, waving his hand over a small display case holding several small pipes.

Hop In Hop Out, Hasan, 41, and Rizwan Syed Haider, 45, are each
charged with two counts of selling an instrument for illegal drug use.

Four doors to the east, police also raided Canadian Convenience and
Gift Store and charged its owners.

Aslam Mohammed, 38, was charged with two counts of selling an
instrument for illicit drug use. Nippon International Ltd. and Aftab
Hussain, 37, have each been charged with one count.

Police said they seized about 3,000 pipes in the operation, with all
but 100 coming from Boodlum Boutique, 109A 8th Ave. S.W., and Bongs
and Such, 4829 Macleod Tr.

Investigators also alleged Boodlum had 3.6 kilograms of marijuana,
500 marijuana joints, 135 grams of hashish and 45 grams of marijuana oil.

Boodlum's longtime location on Stephen Avenue Walk is now vacant and
the owners weren't available for comment.

Michael Douglas Chapman, 31, has been charged with two counts of
possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of selling
an instrument for illicit drug use. Roderick John Chapman, 64, and
Boodlum Boutique Variety Sales Ltd. have each been charged with one
count of selling an instrument for illicit drug use.

Bongs and Such has been charged with one count of selling an
instrument for illicit drug use, along with William Stewart Hillis,
30, Maria Lauritsen, 29, and Nick Lauritsen, 29. Cory Matthew
Gaudette, 25, was charged with two counts of the same offence.

Staff of the Macleod Trail store refused comment.