POLICE GANG UP ON COKE DEALERS

Two high-end cocaine dealers have made B.C. history by becoming the
first to be convicted of breaking the law to benefit a criminal gang.

Jason Herrick and Thomas Fraser, both of Kelowna, were found guilty of
trafficking cocaine. Police seized more than 3 1/2 kilos connected to
the pair during the summer of 2006.

Fraser, who prosecutors call the ringleader, was also convicted of
directing crimes for the benefit of a criminal organization. Herrick,
who handled the transactions, was found guilty of committing crimes
for the benefit of a criminal organization.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Geoff Barrow announced his verdict without
giving reasons on Tuesday. He promised to release them in written form.

Police intercepted 274 communications between the pair and others.
Through wiretaps and surveillance, investigators followed the suspects
for several weeks. They bought, sold and distributed the cocaine by
the ounce in Kelowna, Penticton, Oliver and other Okanagan
communities.

Prosecutors John Walker and Charles Hough never found a name for the
criminal gang. Even so, they proved Fraser and Herrick were working
for an organization that profited from the drug trade.

Police witnesses described transactions in vacant parking lots,
exchanges of packages outside a Cooper Road strip-mall and a cocaine
bust that yielded half a kilogram in a Pandosy Street apartment.

Police found two kilos connected to Fraser and Herrick in the trunk of
a car driven by Margo Safadi near Merritt. The judge acquitted the
Vancouver woman on Tuesday.

The Crown described Fraser as the leader who didn't handle the
cocaine. Herrick took care of the drugs and money, while Safadi was
the alleged mule from Vancouver.

The investigation started May 4, 2006, when police arrested a man with
$48,000 after he'd just met with Herrick. Officers began watching the
suspects and tapping communications.

Herrick delivered a kilo to one man in July 2006 and another man
delivered a kilo to Herrick's apartment two days later. Herrick then
sent a text message saying "Done deal." The same man delivered more
cocaine to Herrick's apartment in the following days.

Fraser was sentenced in April 2008 to five years imprisonment for drug
offences in Penticton. He would have been released on parole but
remained in custody on the Kelowna charges. He faces a maximum
sentence of life in prison. Herrick could be jailed for up to 14 years.

As soon as the judge convicted the men, their lawyers applied to have
the charges stayed on grounds that it took the court too long to find
them guilty.

The arguments will continue today and Justice Barrow is expected to
reserve his decision.