CITY TEENS ARRESTED WITH $1.2M IN ECSTASY

Two Hamilton youths have been arrested at Pearson International Airport
with more than 34,000 Ecstasy pills strapped to their legs. The youths,
aged 16 and 17, were hiding the illegal drug -- which police estimate could
fetch $1.2 million -- under their baggy pants.

They had just arrived on a flight from France Friday evening when they were
arrested.

It is the airport's biggest-ever Ecstasy bust.

The arrest comes at a time when concerns about Ecstasy are growing.

In fact, it comes only one week after the chief coroner of Ontario
announced he is launching an inquest into one of nine Ecstasy-related
deaths in southern Ontario last year.

The drug is a favourite among youth in the rave scene. It gives users a
sense of confidence, well-being and a high level of energy. It also reduces
social inhibitions.

It can, however, cause nausea, paranoia, seizures, insomnia, even comas and
death.

The bust was the fourth this year at the airport.

"It's a drug that's becoming more popular with young people," said
Detective Ken Weatherill, of the Hamilton-Wentworth vice and drugs
division. "There is obviously a market that can support those pills."

Airport customs inspectors became suspicious when they realized the teens,
both living at the same address in Hamilton, were unemployed and
travelling without an adult.

They inquired into the teens' trip and more doubts were raised, said Canada
Customs spokesperson Duncan Smith.

"Most people going on a holiday will book their flight well in advance with
the best possible deal, but that was not their case," Smith said.

Moreover, the teens had only been in France for a week and couldn't provide
clear answers about their whereabouts.

They were sent to a baggage inspector who found a pipe with drug residue in
one of their suitcases.

Inspectors obtained a search warrant and, a few minutes later found 34,800
hits of Ecstasy.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called and the offenders were
charged with importing a controlled substance into Canada.

Each hit fetches $20-$40 on the street.

On Jan. 15, a Vancouver man was charged with importing more than 15,000
Ecstasy pills.

A few days later, two men from Ontario were charged with importing similar
pills.

Smith said this year's busts have already led to the seizure of 72,800
pills worth about $2.5 million last month.

In January alone, inspectors seized a quantity some six times larger than
last year, when 12,925 pills were seized during seven busts.

"It's quite a jump," Smith said.

All the people caught this year were coming from France and using the same
flight number -- leading police to believe they may be part of an organized
group.

"I don't know whether it's one organization or a few organizations," said
Detective Constable John Belleghem of the Toronto police force's
clandestine laboratory section.

He said, however, they are definitely organized. "These people who were
arrested were just carriers."

Belleghem, who is not investigating this particular case, said carriers are
usually set up to carry the drugs and then ordered to transfer them to some
connection in the city.

The pills were probably first destined for the Toronto market, and then
smaller Ontario cities, then possibly the United States.

Belleghem said the production and distribution of Ecstasy has been
associated in the past with outlaw motorcycle gangs. But with this new
wave of imports, he said other groups may be involved as well.

The one thing that remains clear, however, is that even with those nine
deaths last year, Ecstasy is becoming more and more popular -- and still as
dangerous. "All of this is produced in clandestine labs ... and any kind of
products could go into that stuff."

The men who died last year after taking the drug were between the ages of
20 and 30. The coroner's inquest will therefore examine the nature of
Ecstasy and its dangers.

The inquest also will shine the public spotlight on raves, all-night dance
parties and the culture that has sprung up around them -- with which
Ecstasy is now closely associated.

Belleghem said that parents who drop their kids off at all-night dance
parties with no alcohol should still be aware of their actions.

"It's not the alcohol that's dangerous but the drug."