ECSTASY BUSTS IN GTA WORTH $100M

More than $100-million worth of Ecstasy is off the streets after York
Regional Police made drug busts at seven different locations last week. The
drugs, as well as the chemicals used to make it, were seized at clandestine
labs in Toronto and Markham residences and storage facilities in what is
believed to be one of the largest drug investigations in Canada.

Seven men from British Columbia have been charged.

Police raided homes at Glenbourne Park Dr. in Markham as well as at
Shallowford Ct., and Roxanne Ct. in Toronto and a storage unit on Sheppard
Ave. E. on Dec. 15.

Two days later, police searched two storage units on Finch Ave. and Dynamic
Dr. in Toronto. And on Saturday, police searched a storage unit on
Middlefield Rd. in Toronto, where they seized chemicals.

INTERNET 'RECIPES'

Police were expected to release more details at a press conference this
morning.

Costing pennies to make, each Ecstasy pill is sold for between $20 and $25.
Ingredients can be bought from chemical warehouses and assembled from
Internet "recipes."

The colourful pills are intended to fool young people -- the main target --
into believing they're less harmful and addictive than other drugs, police
said.

Unkept properties, lights on at unusual hours, windows covered at all times
and people coming or going at odd hours are often signs a home is being
used for illegal purposes, police said.

Clandestine drug labs may emit an odour of ammonia, licorice or root beer.
And the homes are often surrounded by dead grass and plants as a result of
the chemical fumes.