MAJOR DRUG RING 'OUT OF SERVICE'

TRURO - Wednesday's sweeping raids in Colchester County should deal a
major blow to the illegal drug market right across the Maritimes, an
RCMP official says.

"We believe that we have taken one of the biggest distribution
networks out of service with this organized crime group," Cpl. Joe
Taplin said yesterday, during a follow-up media briefing.

"So there is not going to be any amount of cocaine or illegal drugs
on the streets of Nova Scotia or the Maritimes and especially in
Colchester County."

During the nine-month investigation by the RCMP's divisional drug
unit (which was co-ordinated out of the Northeast Nova drug office in
Truro), Taplin said officers have observed kilos of cocaine, tens of
thousands ecstasy pills and cigarettes being sold by members of the
organized crime group while also making "numerous" purchases of
illegal drugs from them.

While police did not showcase any confiscated drugs, Taplin said an
undisclosed volume of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and cannabis
resin was seized during Wednesday's raids on 11 residences in
Colchester, Truro and Hants County. A "substantial" amount of cash
was also seized, he said.

However, Taplin said the real blow to the drug organization will be
felt through the RCMP's efforts to seize property under the Proceeds
of Crime Act, which essentially allows police to seize any and all
property they believe was obtained through the proceeds of crime, as
in money generated through the sale of illegal drugs.

So far, police have restrained eight residences and seized 35
vehicles (including flashy 4X4 pickups, cars, motorcycles, ATVs and
snowmobiles) and such household items as electronic equipment, TVs,
refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers and computers.

One stolen vehicle was also recovered, Taplin said, and two used
automobile dealership licenses (registered to Curtis Lynds and Sons
Auto Sales and Burgoyne Auto Sales) have been seized.

"So, this is going to put a huge dent into their lives," Taplin said.
"We've put a big dent into this organized crime group ...

"By seizing these items and restraining these residences ... makes it
harder for them to get up and started again."

The existing warrants enable police to continue searching the
properties until today, after which the owners will be permitted to
continue living in them, he said. But until the cases have been
settled through the court, the residences remain as property of the
federal government. In the meantime, the residences are subject to
continued investigation by authorities and the owners must maintain
upkeep on the properties.