CRACK DOMINATES CITY'S DRUG TRADE

It's a cool September evening and a car is hitting speeds of up to
140 km/h along Highway 403, heading towards Brantford.

Following the car are police, who make their move after the driver
takes the Wayne Gretzky Parkway exit, and heads into the city.

The evening's calm is interrupted by flashing lights and a siren from
an unmarked police car.

The cars come to a halt.

Police officers, one in uniform and several others wearing shorts and
T-shirts, pounce on the suspect's vehicle. Less than 30 seconds
later, the driver and a friend are pulled out and cuffed.

Minutes later, police have their quarry - a plastic baggie containing
$2,800 of cocaine.

It's right off the brick, the officers say. It's fresh cocaine that
won't be making it to city streets. It will be held for evidence and
eventually destroyed.

The drug bust scenario is one that could be played out in any city
neighbourhood on any day.

"If you were to throw a dart at a map of the city, you could find a
crack house within a seven-or eight-block radius of that dart," Det.
Const. Jason Saunders says.

He says the local drug trade reaches into every neighbourhood and
affects people throughout the community. There are numerous examples
of people whose lives are being destroyed by drugs, most notably by
crack cocaine. The list includes professionals, a member of the
clergy and business people.

At any given time, the number of crack houses in the city is in the
dozens. Police estimate there are about 20 Toronto-based dealers
operating in Brantford.

In the trenches of the local war on drugs is the city police street
crimes unit, which includes Saunders and several other officers.

Formed in 2003, the unit is an amalgamation of the former
break-and-enter and drug squads. It replaces a joint forces drug unit
that included the RCMP. Its formation followed a decision by the RCMP
to relocate its Brantford-based officer to Hamilton.

City police say property crimes - break and enters and thefts from
vehicles - are directly related to the drug trade. Drug users,
especially those hooked on crack cocaine, will do anything to get the
money they need to support their addiction. And that includes
stealing from family members, neighbours and businesses.

Often, once a thief has been identified, he or she usually can be
counted on to lead police to a drug dealer.

Sgt. Randy Batson, who is in charge of daily operations of the street
crimes unit, was also a member of the joint forces task force. He
prefers the street crimes approach for a lot of reasons.

Before the street crimes unit, drug enforcement mainly was done on a
project basis. Investigators, following up on tips, would focus on a
couple of suspects or illegal drug operations.

Such projects can generate impressive drug seizures and arrests.
However, they are time-consuming and expensive. And, with so many
resources being poured into a couple of projects, other problems,
including property crimes, didn't get the required attention.

For example, the joint forces team made indoor marijuana grow
operations a top priority and did a good job of shutting down many,
Batson says. However, during that time, a lot of crack dealers were
having it easy.

The street crimes unit takes a different approach.

Its members are always patrolling city streets, working several
investigations all at the same time.

A spot on the street crimes unit is one of the most sought-after
assignments in the police service. To qualify, officers need
experience and knowledge of their community, surveillance techniques
and of illicit drugs.

"What we have here is a highly motivated group of officers - team
players who don't require a lot of supervision. They're a tight group
that works well together," says Batson.

In a 20-month period dating back to January 2006, the unit was
responsible for seizing drugs with a street level price of more than
$865,000 and recovering $141,325 in stolen property.

And, so far this year, the unit has arrested more than 145 people for
property and drug-related offences. That compares to 167 in all of
2006 and 121 in 2005.

Those seizures and arrests were the result of a lot of work.
Residents may see the occasional drug bust or takedown in their
neighbourhood. But they likely will never see the amount of work -
including the hours spent on surveillance - that leads up to the bust.

The street crimes unit's work usually begins with a tip.

"A lot of people out there don't realize this, but we rely on
information," says Det. Const. Jason Nagy. "A lot of what we do is
confidential. But we couldn't do it without all the information we
get from Crime Stoppers, uniformed officers and citizens."

Many people also don't see the connection between thefts and drugs.
"When a crack house opens up, it affects the whole neighbourhood,"
Nagy says. "You start to see more break and enters and thefts from
vehicles . . . all that kind of crime."

So far this year, street crimes officers have received more than
1,400 tips about thefts and illegal drug use.

Recently, the street crimes unit arrested a man and recovered
thousands of dollars worth of stolen property thanks to a tip from a
suspicious resident.

The case underscores the importance of calling police when something
doesn't feel right.

Stolen property recovered by police is eventually returned to the
rightful owners. Illegal drugs that are seized are placed in the
police station's vault.

Det. Const. Keith Tollar is responsible for maintaining the drug
evidence exhibits and arranges for illegal drugs to be destroyed.

He says that, in the past, the vault smelled of marijuana. Now, the
smell is of crack cocaine, the hard drug of choice in Brantford. It
is a more potent form of cocaine that produces an incredible high for
the first-time user.

Typically, crack cocaine has been cut by the addition of impurities.
Instead of being 97 per cent pure cocaine, it's likely about 60 per
cent, Tollar explains. Crack is produced through a cooking process
that makes it a smokable form of the drug

The high from snorting cocaine isn't nearly as intense as that
generated by crack cocaine. The effects of smoking crack hit the user
within 10 seconds and the high lasts about 10 to 20 minutes.

The first time produces such a high that users want to repeat it. The
problem, however, is that no matter how hard they try, how much they
spend and how much they use, the user will never repeat that first experience.

It's called "chasing the high" - a high that can never be caught.

Crack cocaine is so powerful that it is all but impossible to escape
its clutches.

Some of the local dealers are city residents and many are users, too.
Those who sell crack but don't use it can make a lot of money. A
street-level dealer, someone who sells crack to make money and not to
feed a habit, will generally unload one and two ounces a day.
Purchased at $1,000 an ounce and sold on the street at $2,800, the
daily profit ranges between $1,800 to $3,600.

Local dealers must compete with out-of-towners, often people from
Toronto who see Brantford as a profitable and less dangerous market.
"It's a dog-eat-dog world in Toronto," says Det. Const. Jim Sawkins.
"Why try to operate there if you can go an hour or so out of town and
operate here?"

"If you're from Toronto you have instant street cred (credibility).
Even if you don't have a gun, people will think that you do."

The out-of-towners are different, often moving from the house of one
crack user to another to stay in business and ahead of police. They
rarely venture out of the house and often come into the city in a
rental car or by train.

"They'll set up in the house of a user, someone who uses crack
cocaine," Sawkins says. "They'll use the person's house or have the
person do the runs for them in exchange for some crack cocaine."

If they suspect police are on to them, the dealers move to the house
of another user or head out of town for a bit.

"These guys (the dealers) seldom use crack cocaine," says Sawkins.
"They might smoke a little weed, but they hardly ever touch the crack."

Because of the potential dangers of dealing with drug dealers, police
are well armed and equipped for the job.

In addition to their service handgun, some of the street crime
officers are trained in the use of other weapons, including assault
rifles. A couple are members of the police service's tactical team.
They have access to a variety of weapons as well as protective gear
to deal with a variety of illicit drugs. If they search a house, the
tactical team, depending on the perceived danger, may be called in to assist.

A huge battering ram is available to break down doors and they also
have Taser training to deal with dogs.

When officers find drugs, they usually find weapons as well. In the
past couple of years, they have found AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns
and handguns.

When officers enter a home, they announce they are the police and
their protective clothing has police on it. Still, it's no guarantee
they won't be shot at.

"The team went into one house on Ava Road a while back," Batson
recalls. "Our officer sees one person, a female, and then he sees a
man running down the hallway.

"Our officer chases after him and catches him on a bed just as the
guy was reaching towards a night stand. There was a handgun on the
night stand."

In Saturday's second part of the series, The Expositor spends five
nights with the street crimes unit.

Tips Key to Police Work

And, so far this year, the unit has arrested more than 145 people for
property and drug-related offences. That compares to 167 in all of
2006 and 121 in 2005.

Those seizures and arrests were the result of a lot of work.
Residents may see the occasional drug bust or takedown in their
neighbourhood. But they likely will never see the amount of work -
including the hours spent on surveillance - that leads up to the bust.

The street crimes unit's work usually begins with a tip.

"A lot of people out there don't realize this, but we rely on
information," says Det. Const. Jason Nagy. "A lot of what we do is
confidential. But we couldn't do it without all the information we
get from Crime Stoppers, uniformed officers and citizens."

Many people also don't see the connection between thefts and drugs.
"When a crack house opens up, it affects the whole neighbourhood,"
Nagy says. "You start to see more break and enters and thefts from
vehicles . . . all that kind of crime."

So far this year, street crimes officers have received more than
1,400 tips about thefts and illegal drug use.

Recently, the street crimes unit arrested a man and recovered
thousands of dollars worth of stolen property thanks to a tip from a
suspicious resident.

The case underscores the importance of calling police when something
doesn't feel right.

Stolen property recovered by police is eventually returned to the
rightful owners. Illegal drugs that are seized are placed in the
police station's vault.

Det. Const. Keith Tollar is responsible for maintaining the drug
evidence exhibits and arranges for illegal drugs to be destroyed.

He says that, in the past, the vault smelled of marijuana. Now, the
smell is of crack cocaine, the hard drug of choice in Brantford. It
is a more potent form of cocaine that produces an incredible high for
the first-time user.

Typically, crack cocaine has been cut by the addition of impurities.
Instead of being 97 per cent pure cocaine, it's likely about 60 per
cent, Tollar explains. Crack is produced through a cooking process
that makes it a smokable form of the drug.

The high from snorting cocaine isn't nearly as intense as that
generated by crack cocaine. The effects of smoking crack hit the user
within 10 seconds and the high lasts about 10 to 20 minutes.

The first time produces such a high that users want to repeat it. The
problem, however, is that no matter how hard they try, how much they
spend and how much they use, the user will never repeat that first experience.

It's called "chasing the high" - a high that can never be caught.

Crack cocaine is so powerful that it is all but impossible to escape
its clutches.

Some of the local dealers are city residents and many are users, too.
Those who sell crack but don't use it can make a lot of money. A
street-level dealer, someone who sells crack to make money and not to
feed a habit, will generally unload one or two ounces a day.
Purchased at $1,000 an ounce and sold on the street at $2,800, the
daily profit ranges between $1,800 to $3,600.

Local dealers must compete with out-of-towners, often people from
Toronto who see Brantford as a profitable and less dangerous market.
"It's a dog-eat-dog world in Toronto," says Det. Const. Jim Sawkins.
"Why try to operate there if you can go an hour or so out of town and
operate here?"

"If you're from Toronto you have instant street cred (credibility).
Even if you don't have a gun, people will think that you do."

The out-of-towners are different, often moving from the house of one
crack user to another to stay in business and ahead of police. They
rarely venture out of the house and often come into the city in a
rental car or by train.

"They'll set up in the house of a user, someone who uses crack
cocaine," Sawkins says. "They'll use the person's house or have the
person do the runs for them in exchange for some crack cocaine."

If they suspect police are on to them, the dealers move to the house
of another user or head out of town for a bit.

"These guys (the dealers) seldom use crack cocaine," says Sawkins.
"They might smoke a little weed, but they hardly ever touch the crack."

Because of the potential dangers of dealing with drug dealers, police
are well armed and equipped for the job.

In addition to their service handgun, some of the street crime
officers are trained in the use of other weapons, including assault
rifles. A couple are members of the police service's tactical team.
They have access to a variety of weapons as well as protective gear
to deal with a variety of illicit drugs. If they search a house, the
tactical team, depending on the perceived danger, may be called in to assist.

A huge battering ram is available to break down doors and they also
have Taser training to deal with dogs.

When officers find drugs, they usually find weapons, as well. In the
past couple of years, they have found AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns
and handguns.

When officers enter a home, they announce they are the police and
their protective clothing has police on it. Still, it's no guarantee
they won't be shot at.

"The team went into one house on Ava Road a while back," Batson
recalls. "Our officer sees one person, a female, and then he sees a
man running down the hallway.

"Our officer chases after him and catches him on a bed just as the
guy was reaching towards a night stand. There was a handgun on the
night stand."

On Saturday, Part 2 of the series takes readers inside the street
crimes unit for five nights.

Expositor reporter Vincent Ball spent a week with the city police
street crimes unit to produce a special series - Undercover, an
inside look at Brantford's drug trade. This is the first of a
three-part series. Part 2 appears Saturday.

[sidebar]

CRACK COCAINE

Crack-cocaine is usually sold by the piece. Following is a price list
for crack-cocaine in Brantford:

30 piece is 0.3 of a gram and sells for $30.

60 piece is 0.6 of a gram and usually sells for about $60.

A full gram usually sells for $80.

A half-ball is 1.4 to 1.7 grams and usually sells for about $120.

A ball or an eight-ball is about 2.7 to 3.5 grams and usually sells
for $200 to $240.

Seven grams or a quarter of an ounce is called a Q or a Queen or a
Quarter and is usually a dealer-to-dealer sale, selling for $350 to $400.

A full ounce or 28 grams usually sells for between $900 and $1,300.