NO-GO ZONES IMPOSED ON DRUG SUSPECTS

The buzz was subdued in the Hastings Street drug bazaar yesterday as dozens
of suspected dealers appeared in court.

But drug deals were still going down and the smoke from rock cocaine
percolated through the air.

Many of 46 people, mostly Hondurans, arrested in a sweep on Wednesday
appeared before Judge Kerry Smith in Vancouver provincial court.

An interpreter helped some, while others seemed groggy and unsure of what
was going on.

Some needed time to line up a lawyer, in most cases on legal aid.

One person -- who was charged as a man -- appeared in drag and was released
on the condition he/she keep out of the downtown east side.

Police asked for and in many cases received "no-go zones" in Vancouver,
Burnaby and New Westminster, meaning the accused dealers cannot travel from
one area to another to deal drugs.

"The courts have followed our requests for community restrictions, which is
the first time it has ever happened," said Vancouver police Staff-Sgt. Doug
MacKay-Dunn.

"I feel good about that. It's a good step forward. It shows that people are
listening."

Rob Johnston, manager of enforcement for Immigration Canada, said six or
eight of the arrests resulted in immigration charges.

"Those were cases that we had issued Canada-wide warrants for."

The roundup was welcomed by residents, business owners and social workers.

"It was a good thing," said Shana Chetner, an adolescent counsellor with
the Greater Vancouver Mental Health Unit. "It was needed. I hope there is
something long-term that comes out of it."

Chetner said many of the dealers use girls as young as 13.

"There's a lot of really young girls who are hooked up with these guys who
are getting used and abused. They are very naive. It's pretty scary," said
Chetner. "It's bad, very bad."

The Canadian Grassroots Community Association is sending a 10,000-name
petition to Ottawa demanding a crackdown on crack dealers and better
screening of immigrants.

And a march is scheduled for 10 a.m. today along Hastings Street to show
support for the crackdown.

n A 23-person force of police, immigration, fire and health-department
personnel swooped on five apartment buildings in New Westminster yesterday.

Four arrests were made, one for a bail violation and three on immigration
charges. Some stolen property was seized along with a small quantity of
drugs and falsified immigration documents.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski