'BATMAN' NABS DUO

Cross-Canada Drug Sweep Busts Pair From Metro

A Porters Lake man arrested in a raid on the Hells Angels clubhouse in
Halifax more than a year ago is one of two Nova Scotians facing charges in
Newfoundland of being connected to a national drug-trafficking network.

Norman Henry Overdijk of Cranton Drive, Porter's Lake, and Mark Orland
Power of Old Coach Road, Head of Chezzetcook, face charges of conspiracy to
traffic marijuana after simultaneous police raids in Newfoundland, British
Columbia and Nova Scotia -- dubbed Operation Batman -- resulted in the
arrest of 19 people.

Newfoundland RCMP Staff Sgt. Greg Smith said the two were picked up at
their homes at noon Tuesday and flown in a police Twin Otter plane to St.
John's yesterday. They will appear in court today.

Smith said Overdijk is on bail after he was charged with drug-trafficking
after a raid on the Hells Angels' Fairview clubhouse 14 months ago.

Police say they've dismantled a sophisticated trafficking ring. The RCMP
seized $2 million worth of harvested marijuana from a growhouse in
Kamloops, B.C., not including 1,844 plants also seized there, plus $1
million in drugs in Newfoundland and Labrador and several hundred thousand
dollars worth of assets and cash. One of the men arrested in B.C. is from
Newfoundland, and is described by police as "integral" to the conspiracy.

The drugs in B.C. were destined for Newfoundland, where Smith said
traffickers can make an extra $1,000 wholesale for a half-kilogram,
compared with the going price in B.C.

"If you dance to the music in Newfoundland, you got to pay the fiddler in
Newfoundland," he said.

Smith said the RCMP will allege Overdijk, 42, sent a nine-kilogram
marijuana shipment to Newfoundland in September, followed by several
two-kilogram packages shortly before Christmas. He was using unsuspecting
courier companies to transport the drugs, he said.

Smith said Power, 32, "is Overdijk's right-hand man. He was acting on
Overdijk's instructions."

Overdijk dealt over the phone with dealers, then had Power send the drugs,
Smith, noting police think this because they "intercepted conversations"
using wiretaps.