CAYMAN CRACKDOWN ON ECSTASY

T.O. Women Busted

Two 26-year-old Toronto women were arrested and thrown in jail in the
Cayman Islands for possessing the designer drug ecstasy.

The arrests were the first made by Royal Cayman Islands Police in their
crackdown on the lab-made drug popular in night clubs on the island.

Supt. Derek Haines, of the drug task force, said the unidentified women
were arrested last Saturday night in a car that had been pulled over by
police. The vehicle was driven by a local man who was also charged.

"It's the first arrests we've had here for ecstasy," Haines said. "We've
heard there was quite a bit of the drug going around."

The women were charged with possession and consumption of drugs. They were
released on bail on Wednesday and will return to court next week.

"They will be deported if convicted," Haines said. "They will be toast."

Police said the pair had been living on the island for a year and were
working at a beach bar.

Haines said their identities can't be released until they've made a plea in
court. Police also refused to give a Toronto address for the women.

"A urine sample showed they had consumed the drugs," Haines said. "We're
extremely firm on drug abuse. It won't be tolerated."

Haines said foreigners caught with drugs on the island are jailed.