'DIAL-A-DOPE' METHODS EXPOSED

After a year-long investigation that has so far resulted in 17 arrests,
Langley RCMP say they have shut down a Lower Mainland "dial-a-dope"
criminal organization known as "Dark Alley".

The "brazen" crime cell, which is allegedly responsible for moving and
selling illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine and
marijuana, advertised itself with sinister-looking business cards, said
Cpl. Dale Carr at a press conference Wednesday morning. The black cards,
some emblazoned with skulls, bear the name Dark Alley and a phone number.

Police believe the organization was run by a local "king pin" who had
managers in a number of communities to ensure that drugs were only a phone
call away, 24 hours per day.

"Consumers ranged from youth right up to adults," said Carr, adding that
parents might be surprised to recognize the Dark Alley cards, some of which
were distributed in nightclubs.

Eric Brendan Montgomery, 28, of Langley is thought to be the organization's
leader, while 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 are alleged managers.

More than thirty charges have been approved against these six people -
ranging from trafficking in a controlled substance to production and
possession.

Police expect to make more arrests and lay more charges in the days to come.

In a garage off the Langley RCMP detachment, police met with media to
display the evidence collected from the execution of six search warrants
throughout the Lower Mainland.

At least three guns, ammunition, marijuana in blue zip-lock bags, blocks of
cocaine, methamphetamine and numerous DVDs were scattered across three
folding tables.

A bright blue Yamaha ATV with matching helmet was parked on one side of the
exhibit, while a Craftsman lawnmower, its two front tires flat, sat on the
other.

The air reeked of marijuana.

Reporters listened quietly as Carr explained "what we did in the past year."

In May of 2003, the Langley RCMP drug unit began a street-level drug
trafficking investigation. Soon after, they refocused and decided to go
"right to the top."

With the assistance of police in a variety of Lower Mainland cities,
including Abbotsford, Surrey and White Rock, the local force gathered
enough information to execute six warrants.

Inside the houses were the almost-typical assortment of drugs, stolen
property, cash and weapons.

It appears stolen merchandise was taken in trade for drugs, explained Carr.

"This is big business and it needs to be protected," the police officer
continued, gesturing toward an assault rifle and ammunition.

To drive the point home, he held up a standard police 15-round gun clip and
compared it to a long, black 40-round magazine that was not compatible with
any of the guns collected.

"We didn't recover that gun," Carr said.

The investigation wrapped up on May 28.

When asked if the bust will make a difference in the fight against drugs -
especially in light of Dark Alley's blatant advertising - Carr responded
with optimism.

"We can't throw our hands up," he said, adding that police hope to send a
message to traffickers.

"We're not going to tolerate it," he concluded.