ANOTHER MARKHAM DRUG LAB FOUND

Routine Call Leads Authorities To Suspected Ecstasy Operation

York Region police have discovered what they believe to be another
ecstasy lab operating out of a home in Markham.

The latest discovery is only about a kilometre away from a similar
lab, containing about $10 million worth of ecstasy, that was uncovered
on the weekend.

York Region Detective Don Cardwell said today that Markham
firefighters responded to a call from a neighbour who saw smoke coming
from the house at 99 Brunswick Ave. this morning. Firefighters found a
pot burning on the stove.

Cardwell said a man was upstairs in the bedroom trying to clear the
house when emergency vehicles arrived. He immediately fled.

Once inside, firefighters discovered drug-making equipment, including
a pill press, in the basement. The home is in the Kennedy Rd. and 16th
Ave. area of Markham.

At the scene of the weekend bust, chemicals and $10 million worth of
finished product were found. A pill press - used in the manufacture of
ecstasy - wasn't found. This led police today to speculate that these
two operations could be connected.

"It's possible that it's related," Cardwell said.

Police dog teams were deployed just north of 16th Ave. between Kennedy
and McCowan Rds. in an effor to track down the suspect who fled the
house. He is described as a heavy-set man who was wearing a black
T-shirt and boxer shorts. Police cordoned off area streets in the
search for the suspect. Meanwhile, police wearing protective clothing
went inside the house to investigate further.

In the weekend bust at 412 Manhattan Drive, police seized drugs that
could be worth up to $10 million on the street. They called it one of
the biggest ecstasy drug seizures ever in North America.

Yesterday, police said they don't believe there is a connection
between that bust and a marijuana grow-op discovered next door on
Manhattan Drive in Markham on the weekend.

"We don't believe there is a connection," said Detective Rob Cullen.

The two houses had separate owners, he added.

Police are still looking for suspects in the case of the first ecstasy
lab. Two people, including a child of about 8 years of age, were seen
fleeing the house.