POLICE ANNOUNCE PAIR OF DRUG BUSTS

Toronto chief mourns deaths of Mounties

As the country mourns the loss of four RCMP officers slain during a drug
investigation in northern Alberta yesterday, police in the GTA haven't
slowed their efforts to foil illegal drug offenders.

In Brampton this morning, Peel Regional police announced they have made two
major drug seizures. One involved 29 kilograms of methamphetamine, a highly
addictive synthetic stimulant, taken from an aircraft bound for the GTA and
the other involved 822 pounds of marijuana seized from a tractor trailer in
Mississauga.

The marijuana seizure was valued at $7.5 million while the seizure of
methamphetamine was valued at $6 million. No arrests have been made.

The two sizeable drug caches were put on display this morning in Mississauga
for news photographers.

Peel Const. Dave Warren told reporters that Peel police are seeing a
"resurgence" in crystal methamphetamine in the area.

Meanwhile, at police headquarters in Toronto this morning, interim police
chief Mike Boyd spoke again about the tragedy in rural Alberta.

The four junior Mounties were guarding a farmhouse believed to be used to
grow marijuana and store stolen property when they were ambushed.

"The shock has not diminished," Boyd told reporters, adding that he planned
to speak to the RCMP commissioner today to express his condolences.

"Too often police officers are confronted with the day-to-day dangers as
they serve to protect our community. Too often police officers lay down
their lives in the line of duty."

Boyd said he will focus his attention in the next few days on mourning the
loss, praying for the victims' families and coordinating efforts among GTA
police chiefs to send a contingent to Alberta for the funeral.

He said all the facts aren't in yet, so didn't want to speculate on how the
tragedy would impact police procedures in this city and across the country
regarding raids on grow-ops.

"What happened is something that lurks as a terrible possibility in the
minds of all police officers."

He said he has "considerable information" as past chairman of the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police drug abuse committee. He also worked with
the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

"In a few days, we need to come back and talk about the concern right across
the country," Boyd said.

Meanwhile, York Regional Police chief Armand La Barge today sent his
"deepest sympathies" from Israel where he is attending a six-day mission on
anti-terrorism strategies with other police leaders from across Ontario.

La Barge said he and other members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of
Police held a moment of silence this morning at the Canadian Embassy in Tel
Aviv. They were joined by Don Sinclair, Canadian Ambassador to Israel and
Monte Kwinter, Ontario's Community Safety Minister.

"We are all a family. A tragedy like this affects each and every police
officer across the country," acting York Regional Police chief Eric Jolliffe
said in a statement. "Today is a day to reflect on the dedication of these
police officers, and all officers, who put their lives on the line every
day."