RECORD HEROIN HAUL

Mounties Have Seized 50 Kilos This Year At Pearson Airport

The RCMP say they've seized a record 50 kilos of heroin so far this
year being smuggled through Pearson airport and destined for GTA streets.

The Mounties are concerned about a rise in heroin use and are
cracking down on smugglers who try to bring the drugs into the country.

"We have stopped a significant amount of heroin from hitting the
streets," said Sgt. Frank Gougeon of the force's airport drug squad.
"There seems to be a big demand for the drug."

Police believe some of the seized heroin, which is worth about $30
million, may have been bound for the U.S. The RCMP and Canada Customs
usually seize between 10 and 25 kilos of heroin a year.

"We are looking at heroin smuggling more seriously than before,"
Gougeon said. "It's simply because we are seeing so much of it."

Police said most of the heroin is being smuggled from the Golden
Triangle in Southeast Asia, and South America.

"It's simply supply and demand," he said. "The couriers are trying to
bring in larger loads than before."

Patrizia Giolti of the Canada Border Services Agency said front-line
airport officers work hard to find and seize the drugs from smugglers.

"This heroin was intercepted before it can hit the streets," Giolti
said. "Keeping the community safe from drugs is our goal."

Police suspect the increase of heroin use can be linked to younger
users, who prefer smoking it than injecting it.

The Mounties and Customs at Pearson have also seized more than 100
kilos of cocaine and 20,000 kilos of the east African drug khat.