BUST PUTS 'MAJOR DENT' IN SUDBURY'S CRACK ACTIVITY

Local police services claimed a small victory in the fight against the
scourge of crack cocaine in Greater Sudbury by charging 37 people with
trafficking the highly-addictive drug Thursday.

The charges stem from an eight-month undercover investigation
conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Section
and Greater Sudbury Police. The investigation was code-named Project
Rocked.

"Am I convinced we've stemmed the tide of crack cocaine in this
community...no I'm not, but I am confident we've reached deep into the
local drug trade," said Greater Sudbury Police Chief Ian Davidson, at
a press conference Thursday afternoon at police headquarters.

"I also do know 37 dealers are in jail or will soon be in jail."

The investigation focused on infiltrating crack cocaine dealers
operating across Greater Sudbury, said Insp. Susan Evans of the
Greater Sudbury Police.

An undercover officer was able to make numerous purchases of crack
cocaine during this project, which resulted in the 37 individuals
being charged with more than 200 various drug-related offences, she
said.

More than $120,00 of crack cocaine was seized and purchased during the
investigation, said Det. Staff Sgt. Tony Fletcher of the Sudbury
detachment of the OPP.

Fifteen people have been arrested and remain in custody, seven of
those charged were already in custody on other matters and warrants
have been issued for the arrest of 15 other individuals, said Fletcher.

The investigation revealed seven dealers from the Greater Toronto Area
were bringing in substantial amounts of crack cocaine to Greater
Sudbury and 30 individuals from this community were actively
trafficking the drug from various locations, said Fletcher.

The undercover agent purchased amounts of crack ranging from very
small amounts to a quarter--pound, said Evans.

Not only will this drug bust get three dozen dealers off the street,
but it should result in a decline in other property crimes as many of
these dealers are addicts as well and often are forced to resort to
crime to pay off drug debts or get money to feed their addictions,
said Evans.

This bust won't eliminate the growing problem of crack cocaine
addiction in Greater Sudbury, but it will make a major dent, she said.

"We feel this operation was a great success...we've identified 37
dealers who are now out of business," she said.

All but a handful of those charged were charged after trying to sell
crack to one undercover officer who infiltrated the local drug trade,
said Fletcher.

Evans said crack cocaine wasn't a big problem in Greater Sudbury until
the past couple of years, when dealers from Greater Toronto decided to
move their business to Northern Ontario.

The problems associated with addiction and increased criminal activity
have become more and more prevalent since increasing amounts of crack
cocaine became more readily available, she said.

The undercover officer was able to find out about numerous "crack
houses" where drugs were being sold based on complaints from
neighbours in various areas of the city, said Fletcher.

Greater Sudbury Police will not back down and will continue to work
together with other police agencies to track down and arrest people
who are bringing and distributing this destructive drug across Greater
Sudbury and Northern Ontario, said Davidson.