2 KILLED BY BAD COCAINE, COPS FEEL

COCAINE TAINTED with a household cleanser has hit the streets of Durham and
cops suspect it may have killed two local drug users. "We are interested in
getting this stuff off the streets," Durham police spokesman Dave Selby
said. "If people have information about that that can help us, we'd like to
talk to them."

Selby said police don't yet know what's in the tainted coke or if that's
what killed two young men in Ajax in the past few weeks, but rumours on the
street point to Comet, or some other household cleanser.

"Toxicology doesn't tell us conclusively what's in it," Selby said. "It's
sometimes hard to prove. But there is information going around out there
now that there is some stuff that's cut and it's not good for you."

Cocaine is often mixed with any number of powdery substances to increase
volume and profitability. Cornstarch, sugar, talcum powder and sugar can be
used, as well as other drugs.

The two Ajax deaths occurred in separate locations and are under
investigation, Selby said. Anyone who bought cocaine off the street should
call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.