DRUG RAID AT CHURCH

Mayoral Candidate Faces Trafficking Charges

Toronto's drug squad raided the Beach's Assembly of the Church of the
Universe yesterday for allegedly illegally selling the marijuana its
members consider a sacrament.

Among the more than two dozen people arrested at the Queen St. E.
centre near Woodbine Ave. was its leader, Rev. Peter Styrsky, 48, a
Toronto mayoral candidate.

He's been charged with trafficking and conspiracy to traffic. It's
the second time police raided the church within a year for allegedly
breaching the limits of its licence allowing it to possess marijuana.

Police allege the church was selling the drug to members, which the
federal permit doesn't allow.

Police seized 200 grams of hashish, 151 marijuana plants, 4.5 kilos
of dried marijuana and an operating marijuana oil lab, which is
potentially dangerous due to the chemicals used to make the drug.
Det. Scott Matthews said the drugs are worth about $203,000 and about
$6,000 cash was also seized. All items associated with marijuana
smoking will also be seized from the store in the church, he said.

"There's only a certain amount of plants that they're allowed to
have, only for personal possession, and they can't sell it," Matthews said.

The church promotes the use of marijuana and uses it as a sacrament.

Project B-17 was launched Sept. 18, and undercover officers posing as
a couple became members of the controversial church.

Members pay $25 for a laminated membership card bearing a picture
which is required for entrance to the building, police said.

Last night, police arrested 17 people after they allegedly purchased
packets of marijuana within a 70 minute period. Most were issued
forms ordering to appear in court on a charge of possessing
marijuana. Matthews said police have received complaints about the
traffic in and out of the building.

"Thanks a lot," one woman said to an officer as she jogged past the building.

"I don't think it's a church," joked a neighbour who didn't want to
be named. "I smell something. I think it's incense from a ceremony."

The man said Styrsky and his wife are a loving couple and good
parents to their three children. The children's grandparents were
called in last night to care for the kids.

"I have a medical licence to produce and use marijuana," church
member Zenon Michael said as he was led towards a police cruiser.
"They're arresting us. They're dragging us away in handcuffs."