A TABLE FULL OF DOLLARS

Following a major narcotics investigation, Regina city police and RCMP have
secured $375,000 in cash generated from local drug sales and over two
kilograms of cocaine intended for local buyers.

On Monday, police displayed the seized drugs and money to media at the
RCMP's "F Division" headquarters. Covering a boardroom table were stacks of
$20, $50 and $100 bills, a nunchuk weapon, and bags of crack and powdered
cocaine.

Investigators from the Regina Integrated Drug Unit, a team of Regina police
and RCMP, said the money accounts for the bulk of known cocaine sales made
during the unit's five-month investigation.

A large number of $50 and $100 bills indicated the sales were to local
dealers and were of a "high-end" nature, said investigators. Police
estimated the displayed drugs carry a street value of $150,000. Eight cars
were also seized as part of the operation.

Officers suspect that all of the ready-made crack was brought to Regina
from Surrey, B.C. -- an operation that likely went on over the course of
the unit's investigation, said Rick Bourassa, spokesman for the Regina
Police Service.

"A lot of this came to us from seizures conducted on the highway and
through other searches conducted in previous months," he said.

The cocaine and money seized last Thursday comprised a small fraction of
the overall display. Last week's bust resulted in the arrest of six
Reginans after police raided eight different residences throughout the
city. At the same time, police in Surrey executed two search warrants and
arrested three people.

Bourassa confirmed that Thursday's arrests and seizures were connected to
Regina's biggest single drug bust. Last July, Regina police and RCMP seized
1.5 kilograms, or $115,000 worth, of cocaine from a north Regina apartment.

Drug investigators said they met their Surrey counterparts a few weeks ago
and remain in close contact. It is believed that B.C.-based drug
traffickers involved in the illegal operation viewed Regina as a major
distribution centre.

A large part of the problem is the falling price of crack cocaine, making
it more affordable for more people, Bourassa said. An eighth of an ounce,
commonly referred to as an "eight ball," sells for about $275. A single,
yellowish "rock" of crack (about the size of a thumbnail) sells for about
$20. Crack is the boiled-down, concentrated form of cocaine that is sought
for its potency. It's usually smoked in a pipe.

"We also have to look to ways to reduce the demand," said Bourassa. "We
look to education for that, and we work with the different schools and
agencies in the city to try and address some of the underlying causes."

The seized drugs and money will now form part of the evidence to be
presented in court.

Four of the nine people who were charged in last week's bust appeared in
Regina Provincial Court Monday.

In custody was Kamsong Phaysith, Sypraseuth Sysoutham, Pahleuhath
Louanglath, all of B.C., and Sisouk Sivongsa of Regina.

Sivongsa was released until his next court appearance Sept. 24 under a
number of conditions, including a $10,000 surety, a curfew, a requirement
to refrain from involvement with illicit drugs, and no contact with his
co-accused. The other three have been remanded in custody until Thursday.