HUGE DRUG BUST 'TIP OF ICEBERG'

Designer Rave Pills $1.5M-A-Week Biz: Cops

Police have smashed one of Toronto's largest suppliers of "designer
drugs" that pumped up to $1.5 million worth of dangerous narcotics
into local clubs every week.

Supt. Ron Taverner said the "sophisticated criminal organization"
manufactured and distributed date-rape drugs, Ecstasy, Speed and Angel
Dust, or PCP, and on one occasion had 500,000 pills stashed away.

Easily made and extremely lucrative to produce, the drugs are targeted
for sale to teens and young adults who attend raves, all-night dance
parties at warehouses and clubs, Taverner said.

"Quite frankly, it's a huge problem," he said, noting half of the
15,000 to 20,000 people who attend raves have tried one of the drugs.

'THOUSANDS OF KIDS'

"Literally thousands of these kids are on some form of a chemical drug
... it's what the young people of today are into."

In early-morning raids Wednesday, 13 people were arrested when 100
Toronto drug cops swooped in on homes, businesses and cars.

Police seized $320,000 in cash, $500,000 worth of drugs and several
high-end vehicles.

Investigators allege several ex-ravers turned to making and selling
the drugs after seeing first-hand how much money was spent buying them.

Dubbed "Project Lawn," the investigation began a year ago with
undercover officers buying marijuana, but expanded when police
realized the extent of drug use at raves.

"The phenomenon is unbelievable how it has taken over the city," said
Det. Randy Smith, of the newly formed major drug investigators unit.

"It evolved quicker than anyone anticipated."

He said the "pretty names" given to the drugs have fooled young people
into believing they're less harmful and addictive than narcotics such
as cocaine or heroin.

BRAIN DAMAGE

But the drugs are known to cause long-term health consequences, such
as brain damage and Parkinson's disease.

Taverner said the $1.5-million worth of drugs supplied every week by
the ring is only "the tip of the iceberg."

Costing only pennies to make, each pill is sold for between $30 and
$45, he said. Ingredients can be bought from chemical warehouses and
assembled from "recipes" on the Internet.

"Basically, anyone can make this," he said.

Taverner said cracking down on the booming designer-drug trade will be
a priority and he had a warning for dealers: "We're coming after you,
and we're coming after you hard."