POLICE TAKE WRAPS OFF MASSIVE DRUG BUST

Details Revealed On Two-Year Probe That Netted Drugs Valued In
Millions

Drugs with a street value "in the millions" have been seized, eight
people have been arrested and police are searching for three others in
relation to a major RCMP drug investigation that has spanned two
years, which the police made public yesterday.

The number of arrests and amount of drugs seized makes the takedown
"probably the largest that we've seen in [the Victoria] area for at
least a year or so," said Staff Sgt. Dave Goddard, spokesman for the
RCMP's Island drug unit.

The RCMP had been monitoring a sophisticated gang of pushers that was
distributing cocaine on Vancouver Island since 2007. Through
surveillance, undercover operations, and wiretaps, the investigators
learned most of the drugs ended up being sold on the streets of Victoria.

During the lengthy investigation, police seized a total of 15
kilograms of cocaine, 3.3 kilograms of ecstasy pills (or more than
14,000 tablets), 90 grams of crystal meth, one 750-millilitre bottle
of GHB, several vials and pill bottles of steroids, a Glock handgun,
three vehicles and $161,000 in cash, much of which was displayed in
evidence bags during yesterday's media conference.

The sweeping investigation culminated in eight arrests on Sept. 28,
2008.

Goddard said it took almost a year to gather all the evidence and
charges on the eight men were approved last month.

It was not until yesterday that police organized the information to
release it publicly.

Goddard wouldn't give a number as to the street-level value of the
drugs but said it is likely in the millions.

In the past, Victoria police estimated that one kilogram of cocaine is
worth $100,000 on the street, so the street-level value of this grab
was $1.5 million.

Ecstasy tablets sell for about $10 each, putting the street value of
the pills seized at $140,000. (Drug experts say the street-level value
is usually more than the drug is worth in its pure form because often
it is diluted before it's sold.)

Asked what the tangible results of the drug bust were on the Victoria
streets, Victoria police Insp. Clark Russell said in the fall of last
year there was an increase in drug-related street-level violence,
which suggests criminals were fighting over a smaller amount of drugs.

Eight men have been charged with unlawfully conspiring together to
traffic drugs and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking:
[redacted]
They are set to appear in court Sept. 21.

Arrest warrants are out for three other men: [redacted].