$15M IN ECSTASY SEIZED

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.