ECSTASY SEIZED IN RAIDS WORTH $15M: POLICE SAY

More than $15 million worth of ecstasy was on display Wednesday at the
York Regional Police station in Markham, just blocks from the home
where almost two-thirds of it was found.

Officers seized 27 kilograms of ecstasy ready to be pressed into
pills, 12 kg of ecstasy waiting for the final purification stage and
87 litres of a substance that appears to be ecstasy waiting for its
initial cleaning stage at a Manhattan Drive home July 17.

A large quantity of dangerous chemicals, lab equipment and $11,790 in
cash were also found at what police are confirming is one of largest
ecstasy seizures in Canadian history.

The tally at a second ecstasy lab found by firefighters days later
just a few kilometres away included two pill presses capable of
producing 1,000 pills an hour, 89 kg of ecstasy ready to be pressed,
two kg of uncut ecstasy, 350 grams of ice methamphetamine, 270 grams
of marijuana, $2,260 in US cash and $285 in Canadian currency.

Police would not confirm a connection between the two labs, but the
investigation is continuing.

Many of the chemicals used in ecstasy production are highly
combustible and police and firefighters said they narrowly avoided a
major explosion capable of devastating not only the Manhattan Drive
home, but also those on either side.

"Notwithstanding the obvious threat they pose to the occupants and
neighbours due to fire, explosions and chemical contamination, these
multi-million dollar criminal enterprises place police officers,
firefighters and EMS workers in harm's way and pose a significant
threat to the safety and security of our community," police Chief
Armand La Barge said.

"Officers from the York Regional Police drug and vice and intelligence
bureaus are using all of the resources at their disposal to bring to
justice those individuals that were responsible for setting up and
operating these illegal enterprises within our community and if there
are others out there engaged in this activity, be warned we will leave
no stone unturned in our efforts to identify you and bring you before
the courts."

A 49-year-old man living in the Brunswick Street home where the second
lab was found has been charged and a warrant has been issued for
another 34-year-old man.