DANCERS HAPPY AFTER DRUG BUSTS AT RAVE

Five people were charged with drug offences at a Saturday night rave -
and the dance community couldn't be happier.

The busts happened during an 18-and-over rave bash that attracted
about 1,500 dancers to the Northlands Sportex.

Staff Sgt. Gary Meads said the busts were made by off-duty police
officers doing special duty patrolling the rave. The busts were made
during searches of ravers and walks through the parking lot, Meads
said.

Three of those busted were minors and officials weren't sure whether
they actually made it inside the rave.

"(The busts) weren't the result of any plans to go do a raid," Meads
said. "It was just part of the regular searches (of the building and
parking lot)."

RaveSafe spokesman Mike Peebles attended the rave and hopes the tight
security sent a message that drugs will not be tolerated.

"It was a hassle, but it's for a good cause," said Peebles, a
spokesman for RaveSafe. "They made you take your shoes off, empty out
your pockets and you got completely patted down from head to toe.
There's not room for much.

"When you have a whole bunch of people who are asked to go through
this, they get educated."

Local rave DJ Dragan Gargic agreed, saying he wasn't surprised cops
made a few arrests on Saturday.

"If you go to even a regular bar, I'm sure some people will have
something on them," he said. "Obviously, Northlands is city property
and I understand why they'd go hard on the drug issue, because they
want a clean venue."

Gargic, 30, said no matter how much security is in view, some people
will try to sneak in something illegal.

"You can't legislate human stupidity," he said. "People know there's
going to be police doing searches, and they still try to sneak stuff
in."

Two of those arrested Saturday were 16; another was 17 years old. None
can be named under provisions of the Young Offenders Act.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Pfeiffer and 21-year-old Ryan Blum were also
charged.