DARK ALLEY OPERATION BUSTED

Police believe they have busted a "dial-a-dope" ring that was run with such
impunity that its bosses even handed out business cards.

Dark Alley has been shut down and is out of business, as far as the Langley
RCMP is concerned.

Seventeen people have been arrested, dozens of charges have been laid, and
hundreds of thousands of dollars in drugs, weapons, and stolen goods were
seized in what police believe has been Langley's biggest crackdown on
organized crime.

Dark Alley was the name of the alleged suspects' business, which police say
was run by a boss, several managers, and crews on the street.

The bold criminals ran the operation like any other company - and even
handed out business cards.

"It was very brazen," Langley RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dale Carr said.
"Evidently they didn't give a crap. That's why we wanted to put them in
jail. It may have been the pitfall of their organization."

Langley RCMP launched a street-level drug trafficking investigation last
year [Police take down drug dealers, May 28, Langley Advance News], which
led officers to refocus and target the operation's kingpin.

Taking down the bosses, said Carr, would cause the entire business to crumble.

Police allege that Dark Alley was overseen by one person who had "managers"
running crews in Langley, Aldergrove, Cloverdale, Abbotsford, and other
communities.

Shifts were created, and police believe employees were hired to ensure that
cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamines could be sold 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.

Besides taking money as payment for drugs, police allege that Dark Alley
would accept stolen goods ranging from liquor and DVDs to all-terrain
vehicles and tires.

"All this is big business, and this business needs to be protected," said
Carr, who showed local media a number of the goods seized from six homes
during a series of raids which culminated on May 28.

Carr displayed a rifle that was "not meant to hunt deer or rabbits. It was
meant to seriously harm somebody."

Police also seized a magazine - a clip used to hold bullets - that was
capable of holding 40 rounds of ammunition.

In contrast, RCMP magazines hold 15 rounds of bullets.

"This is what the bad guys have out there," Carr told the Langley Advance
News. "Understand that this is the type of mentality involved in this
activity. They think they need this kind of fire power, and are quite
frankly willing to use it."

"This is an example of the extent they will go to to protect their
business," he said. "It is serious."

So far, six of the 17 people arrested by the Langley RCMP are facing more
than 30 charges.

Eric Brendan Montgomery of Langley, whom police allege is the leader of
Dark Alley, is facing nine charges, including trafficking in a controlled
substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of
trafficking, and production of a controlled substance.

Drug charges have also been laid against John Wayne Newson of Langley,
Melvin Rajaratnam of Richmond, David Nima Talaji of Richmond, Phillipe
Powell Zopf of Port Coquitlam, and Margit Ruta Mikelsons of Abbotsford.

Charges against the other people taken into custody are being reviewed, and
a few more individuals may yet be arrested, Carr said.

He added that Crown Council will determine if further charges can be laid
under the new organized crime legislation. Those found guilty under the
legislation could face life in prison.

Carr said the Langley RCMP thinks the arrests will be the end of Dark
Alley, but are not so naive as to think such an operation could not be
formed again.

Langley is losing what was once perceived as small-town innocence, the
recent takedown proves, and officers are ready for those who choose to
break the law.

"Just because the Langley detachment is small does not mean we are not up
to the task," Carr said. "We are willing to take them on in a heartbeat.
Bring it on."