HEROIN PRICE TO SOAR: COPS

$50M Bust Biggest Ever In Toronto

Heroin prices will double and addicts' criminal activity will increase,
police warned yesterday in the wake of the largest heroin seizure in
Toronto's history.

Forty pounds of almost pure heroin with a street value of $50 million was
seized in raids Dec. 2.

"Everybody that's holding heroin now can double what they charge," said
Det.-Sgt. Dave Brownell.

Although it's unlikely all the heroin was destined for local consumption,
the seizure will have a serious effect on local supply, police said. Addicts
financing expensive habits through robberies and breakins will have to
expand criminal activities to pay the higher costs, said police.

Street-level "hits" regularly cost about $50. A moderate-to-heavy user needs
an average of five or more hits a day, which means a $250-a-day habit could
easily become a $500-a-day habit.

Fifty cops from Toronto, York and the RCMP raided a number of addresses in
Toronto last Thursday following an eight-month investigation, said Supt. Ron
Taverner.

In addition to heroin, 1,000 hits of ecstasy, $100,000 in cash and four
vehicles were seized.

Police arrested 11 people and are looking at two others.

The accused face a total of 51 trafficking and trafficking-related charges.

Police said the suspects are members of a ring with ties to organized crime
but did not elaborate.

Taverner said the investigation is continuing and hinted more senior ring
members -- including importers -- may be arrested in the near future.

"The public doesn't want to tolerate this type of crime," he said.

Two men caught trying to smuggle 42 kilos of heroin in an aircraft at
Pearson airport in December 1997 were recently sentenced to 18 years in
jail.