ECSTASY OPERATION REACHES OVERSEAS

Drug Investigation Spreads As Far As Hong Kong

A raid earlier this week at a large-scale ecstasy production lab in east
Ottawa has uncovered a massive drug operation that stretches overseas,
police say.

"The present investigation is going to spread outside of Ottawa. We know of
connections in Toronto, Vancouver and Hong Kong," said Ottawa police Staff
Sgt. Monique Ackland. "We're talking about a much, much bigger
organization. The production here covered way bigger than the Ottawa demand."

Drug unit investigators are examining documentation found yesterday in the
lab and are trying to determine who was the proposed buyer for the million
or more pills that could have been produced from the chemicals found in the
lab.

Police discovered more than 600 grams of raw ecstasy powder yesterday in
the lab, as well as a tablet press to put the drug into pill form and other
equipment used in its production. Police and Health Canada officials
estimate 5,000 pills worth at least $100,000 were in the final phase of
production.

More than 400 kilograms of sassafras oil, a major chemical component of
ecstasy, was also found in the lab and a self-storage container across the
street -- enough oil to produce more than 1.5 million ecstasy pills worth
at least $30 million on the street.

Police raided both the storage container and the lab on Sunday evening.

"The lab's been in operation for quite a while, so the understanding is
that (the ecstasy) has been sold for quite a while inside and outside of
Ottawa," Staff Sgt. Ackland said.

Staff Sgt. Ackland said the lab has likely been operating since at least
October. Ottawa police were tipped in the fall by RCMP about a large
purchase of sassafras oil in Toronto by an Ottawa man, which led them to
the warehouse and self-storage container. Police then pulled over a vehicle
earlier this week en route to Ottawa from Toronto and found more than 5,000
ecstasy pills inside.

Mingh Thoan Ha, 47, of Ottawa faces three drug-related charges in
connection with the case. Police say Mr. Ha is the owner of both the
warehouse and self-storage container. He is to make a brief court
appearance today.

As the search of the buildings continued, police have discovered more
ingredients for the production of ecstasy, making the bust one of the
largest in Canadian history involving the drug.

"The person or persons running the lab here amassed a significant quantity
of precursor chemicals and equipment to start producing ecstasy," said RCMP
Sgt. Doug Culver, a liaison officer with the chemical industry and an
investigator at the warehouse.

"This is a very significant lab. It may well be the largest in Ontario and
well within the top three I've seen in Canada," he said, adding that these
sorts of labs are usually found in B.C. "The persons running this lab were
certainly getting geared up to get into some very large production."

Employees of adjacent businesses in the complex, located at 5330 Canotek
Rd., had noticed strong licorice-like smells -- common in the production of
ecstasy -- since July or August.

John Hugel, a Health Canada chemist at the scene, said carcinogenic
chemicals and a lack of ventilation in the lab were posing a serious health
risk to employees of neighbouring businesses.

"Over long periods of time, exposure to small amounts of some chemicals can
be very dangerous," said Mr. Hugel, adding some of the chemicals are
carcinogenic.

Police say they have been investigating the warehouse since October, but
couldn't raid the building until recently, due to lack of evidence for a
search warrant.

"When an investigation is ongoing, you have to gather evidence and we have
to do it within the parameters of the law," Staff Sgt. Ackland said.

Businesses in the Canotek Road complex were closed for the day as police
searched the warehouse, but are scheduled to reopen today.