POLICE SAY MAJOR BUSTS PUTTING DENT IN DRUG TRADE

Another major drug bust in Saskatoon this week continued to squeeze
the local drug trade, as more than 5.4 kilograms of magic mushrooms,
along with marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy, were seized by the
Saskatoon integrated drug unit.

"You've got 5,427 people, if they're using a gram at a time, that
don't get it. So that's large," said Sgt.

Jerome Engele of the Saskatoon Police Service.

Police who raided a house on Spadina Crescent West Thursday also
seized a stolen, loaded handgun and more than $12,000 in cash.

The bust resulted in drug, property and weapons charges against Norman
Patrick Andrew, 33, and Christopher Kearney Healy, 31, who are being
held in custody and will return to court Monday.

It is the latest in a string of raids that have reduced the supply of
drugs in the city, possibly driven up prices and, hopefully, slowed
the number of new users of drugs as regular users strive to protect
their own supplies, Engele said.

Police have observed that when supplies are intercepted, buyers are
more likely to come to the attention of police as they seek new
sources, he said.

"They're out looking for the product so they don't stay in their safe
haven. We sometimes become aware of more people that way," Engele said.

A spate of signifi cant busts in recent months is the result of the
integrated drug unit, comprised of 12 RCMP and eight Saskatoon offi
cers, fi nally being staffed at full strength after struggling with as
many as four vacant positions in recent years, Engele said.

"Our unit is back up to strength, fi nally, so that gives us that many
more to do the work.

"We also have our patrol offi cers out there, doing a lot of good work
and opening doors for us," he said.

While large seizures generate publicity, the drug unit is quietly
"picking away" at the traffi cking problem all the time, executing
small busts and disrupting the trade, Engele said.

"Crystal meth has gone up in price again. We're up to $20 a point,
$150 a gram. At one time, it was $10 a point, $100 a gram. That tells
us it is not readily available. Or the suppliers feel they've
maximized the (number of addicts) they're going to get and they've
upped the price because they've got these people and they're going to
get the money they want out of them," he said.

Engele would like to think users quit if they can't fi nd their drug
of choice but he knows some will simply try other drugs when the
craving hits.

"We're hoping they quit using and breaking the law.

"Our big thing is we don't want to see more youth get involved. People
who are already into it, into that cycle, have made that choice to
break the law and to go and do harm to their bodies. It's hard for us
to get them out of that cycle once they get into it." Engele hopes the
shortage will deter potential users as regulars protect their own supplies.

"The people that are in it won't give it up easily because they want
it for themselves. It serves its purpose by creating shortage but it
also puts dangers and stress on the streets.

"You've got people who need their fi x," he said.

Some of the notable raids conducted by the integrated drug unit in the
past six months.

April: More than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, varying amounts of marijuana,
hashish, methamphetamine, ecstasy and psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, were
seized, along with $35,000 in cash and nine vehicles. Three women and 18
men were charged.

May: 243 marijuana plants, 2.5 pounds of dried cannabis marijuana and a
small quantity of cannabis resin were seized. One man was charged.

June: Cannabis, marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine,
morphine, Ritalin and Dilaudid were seized. Fifteen people were charged and
warrants were issued for 12 other people.

August: 5.4 kilograms of psilocybin, 540 grams of cannabis marijuana, 50
grams of cocaine, eight ecstasy tablets, a stolen handgun and more than
$12,000 were seized. Two people were charged.