DRUG HAUL DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO KIDS

Scarborough Factory Capable Of Producing 1,000 Tablets a Day

Members of Toronto's drug squad have made a $6 million seizure of
cartoon-themed ecstasy tablets spiked with highly addictive methamphetamine
they believe are designed to appeal to young teens.

The designer drugs were mixed with caffeine extract from China,
methamphetamine and food colouring -- and stamped with Batman and 7-Up
logos. The imprints could be changed to a variety of styles, Insp. Bill
Ellison told reporters this morning.

"It's downplaying the dangers," Ellison said. "(The drug producers) did
their homework. Why buy a white pill when you can buy something more
colourful? It's easier to sell."

After a five-month investigation, five people have been arrested. Three of
those are Asians who are being held on immigration warrants. Two are
married. One arrestee has already been deported once, Ellison told
reporters. Two are Canadians.

"I'm not going to lie to you and say we've cracked the ecstasy group of
Toronto, but this was a substantial arrest," Ellison said.

The inspector said the well-organized group was operating as "a single
cell" and can't yet be linked to a wider criminal element. Investigations
into other cells are being conducted, he said.

Bags upon bags of pastel-coloured pills and powder, from pink to orange to
blue, were displayed at police headquarters. Ellison compared the
multi-coloured pills to Flintstone vitamins.

"The ecstasy powder is basically white. It's kind of bland and hard to
sell," Ellison said. "So what they've done is mixed it with caffeine
powder, which they have coloured with food colouring. It gives a little
more spice."

Combining the colours with the addictive methamphetamine, he said, is done
"to get them coming back for more."

The dangers aren't immediately apparent to the drug user, Ellison said.

"They have no idea what they're purchasing. They think they're buying
straight MDMA or ecstasy. And in actual fact, they're ingesting a variety
of unknown substances."

Ecstasy produces a state of euphoria and is used by teenagers, often at
raves or nightclubs. The drugs, which can cost from $20 to $25 per pill,
produce effects that last for four or five hours, Ellison said.

The drug is thought to be less harmful because the chemical isn't known to
be addictive. However, Ellison said, these drugs seized contained highly
addictive methamphetamine.

Caffeine extract was imported from China, possibly because of the price or
perhaps to hide their tracks, Ellison said.

The operation began with an undercover officer making street-level
purchases. A man who was arrested March 3 was found to be in the possession
of more than 11,000 ecstasy pills with a street value of between $200,000
and $250,000.

That person led police to a drug lab operating in a Scarborough house on
Brimley Rd., an area with heavy concentrations of grow-ops, the inspector said.

The house was rented. Police haven't yet determined how long the
individuals were operating there or who the owners are.

Behind the drawn curtains, police found a house without furniture. Police
say the suspects came and went all day and night.

In the basement, they found lab-making equipment capable of producing 1,000
pills an hour.

Six search warrants were executed last Thursday and Friday morning.

The seizure included two kilograms of raw methamphetamine, two kilos of
MDMA power, 26 kilograms of caffeine extract, two pill presses, an electric
grinder, scales, baggies, dyes and pill stamps.

In addition, 237 grams of crystal methamphetamine ('ice'), 100 grams of
ketamine and 16 grams of marijuana were also seized.

Police also found $16,000 in Canadian currency and $6,000 in U.S. currency.

Arrested and charged with 50 various drug offences were: [NAME DELETED] ,
39, of Toronto; [NAME DELETED] , 35, of Toronto, who had been previously
deported to China; married couple [NAME DELETED] , 39, of Toronto, and
[NAME DELETED] , 32, of Toronto; and [NAME DELETED] , 25, of Toronto.

All five are being held in custody.