ECSTASY DEATH PROBE NETS 2 TEENS

A probe into the Ecstasy drug death of a 15-year-old Ajax teen has
spread across the Greater Toronto Area as police nabbed two teenage
girls as they work their way "up the food chain."

Two girls - aged 15 and 16 - were arrested by Durham Regional Police
in raids on homes in Ajax yesterday.

The girls -- who cannot be identified because of youth laws -- are
jointly charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and will
likely have a bail hearing over the weekend.

'ONE STEP AT A TIME'

The pair are alleged to have sold Ecstasy pills to the Ajax teen, who
died in hospital from multiple organ failure and other complications
July 19 -- four days after she collapsed and fell into a coma, police
said.

"We're working our way up the food chain," said Det. Tom
Andrews.

"We're taking this one step at a time and we won't stop until we try
our best to get Ecstasy off the street ... we're moving ahead."

The Ontario coroner's office and several drug squads across the
Greater Toronto Area are involved in the probe, he said.

Andrews was tight-lipped about the arrest of the teens.

But he reminded parents that they should be "diligent" with their teen
children.

'PEDDLING POISON'

"It's a sign of the times that teens carry themselves well beyond
their years," Andrews said.

He also reminded young people to "be careful" about taking highly
dangerous and potentially fatal street drugs.

Drug experts have been seeing deadly and highly addictive crystal meth
mixed in Ecstasy in recent years.

Andrews said police regard the selling of Ecstasy pills as "peddling
poison."

Andrews said police want to hear from citizens who know anything about
yellow Ecstasy tablets with musical notes embossed on them.