POLICE RAIDS SHUT DOWN DRUG RING

Local man named as head of international drug smuggling ring by RCMP
officials

Police say an international drug ring headed by a Scarborough man
collapsed early Wednesday morning.

The Greater Toronto Area Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit
(CFSEU) in partnership with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and
scores of local forces in Canada and the United States arrested 170
people in connection with the ring.

At a press conference held in Etobicoke Wednesday, police said the
network was responsible for the production of ecstasy and marijuana in
Canada -- after importing the powder from Holland, then distributing
the drugs in the United States and laundering money.

Police in Toronto seized about $150,000 in cash.

In addition to the criminal charges, the Scarborough man, originally
from China, faces immigration charges.

Wong Ze Wai, 46, the alleged ringleader of the syndicate, faces 39
charges including conspiracy to traffic and export a controlled
substance, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime and
participating in a criminal organization.

Police raided Wai's Bonis Avenue condominium, in the Kennedy Road and
Sheppard Avenue area, early Wednesday morning.

Residents in the area were reticent to talk to a reporter on Thursday,
but expressed surprise such an allegedly high-profile criminal lived
in their neighbourhood.

A resident of Bonis Avenue, who identified herself only as Mary,
said:

"I'm very surprised and shocked. What can I say? It's is surprising,"
she said.

"I'm starting to wonder if this is a good area. It's upsetting. I live
so close by."

Rosemarie Mayne, who works in the area, said:

"I'm glad they caught them. I'm shocked that he lived here. This area
is very quiet. I've been working here for a long time. It's really
shocking. I'm really glad they made an arrest. It'll make the area
safer. The area must get safer."

According to CFSEU Chief Supt. Ben Soave, dies used in the production
of the ecstasy could produce one pill per second or 250,000 a day.
Police said one lab was found in Toronto.

"These facilities could produce $6 million in product every single
day," said Soave.

Soave added that $500,000 in marijuana was also seized.

"We have been able to collectively dismantle this organization from
top to bottom," said Soave.

The police probe, operating under the name Okapi, began in Toronto in
May 2001 after American authorities alleged ecstasy was being shipped
into the United States from Canada.

Ecstasy is the street name for the drug MDMA. Ecstasy is occasionally
found at raves and dance clubs, where it used as a stimulant to assist
long dance sessions.

Acting Chief Coroner Dr. Barry McLellan warned the public that the use
of ecstasy can cause long-term side effects including depression and
cognitive deficiencies.

"Ecstasy is not a safe drug," he said. "We know that someone can die
from the ingestion of just one tablet."

Wu Kay, 40, also of Scarborough, faces four charges including the
production of a controlled substance and the possession of property
obtained by crime.

Le Thi Phuong Mai, 38, who police allege was primarily responsible for
co-ordinating the laundering and exporting of the drug funds, was
arrested in Ottawa. Le is alleged to be Wong's business partner.