GEORGINA RESIDENTS HOPE DRUG BUST EASES CRIME RATE

41 Arrests Made

Residents of Lake Simcoe cottage country are hoping a sweeping drug
probe that wrapped up yesterday with 41 arrests will ease the local
crime rate, officials said.

"These were two very active drug syndicates that were compromising
the quality of life for people in the community," said Inspector
Thomas Carrique of York Regional Police after a bust in the Georgina
area northeast of Newmarket.

"Drugs lead to other crimes: break-and-enters, thefts, robberies,
especially home invasions, assaults, and at the greatest end of the
scale, homicides.

"A lot of the residents of this community moved here to avoid some of
the problems associated with larger cities," he said.

Residents in Georgina and the surrounding area -- a community of
45,000 people -- provided information that led to the arrests, Insp.
Carrique added.

"That's one of the benefits of living in a smaller community," said
Danny Wheeler, a York Region municipal councillor and Deputy Mayor of Georgina.

"People generally have good eyes out there. They know their
neighbours and notice certain activities," Mr. Wheeler said. "This
will stop the flow of drugs for the time being, at the very least."

Police said the three-month investigation, dubbed Project Home,
destroyed the syndicates, which were selling everything from
marijuana and crack cocaine to Ecstasy and Psilocybin, also known as
"magic mushrooms."

The "wide-ranging" bust, which uncovered about $280,000 worth of
drugs, began after a homicide last year, Insp. Carrique said.

Shawn Douse, a resident of Keswick, was found beaten to death in a
field. The four men charged in his murder are believed to be
connected with the Bandidos motorcycle gang. Eight of the gang's
members and associates were found murdered on a farm in Shedden in April.

None of the 42 people charged in Project Home are bike gang members,
Insp. Carrique said.

All but one of the suspects -- who range in age from 21 to 60 -- have
been arrested.

A warrant has been issued for Harry Hardgrove, who allegedly escaped
from police custody during his arrest. The 27-year-old is believed to
be in the Toronto area, Insp. Carrique said.

In all, police seized 25 ounces of crack cocaine, two pounds of
marijuana, 175 marijuana plants, more than 1,100 Ecstasy pills, about
eight grams of heroin and a host of prescription drugs. Three guns
and about $61,000 in cash were also seized, police said.