POLICE CLAIM BIG DRUG RING 'DECIMATED' IN 18-CITY RAID

OTTAWA -- Police raided homes and businesses in three Canadian and 15
U.S. cities yesterday, saying they had "decimated" an Ottawa-based
Vietnamese drug ring that laundered $5 million US a month.

Ottawa Police Chief Vince Bevan said a two-year police probe "had a
common thread that led back to Ottawa."

Officials said 170 suspects were arrested in both countries, including
29 in the capital, two in Montreal and one in Toronto. Drugs seized
included ecstasy, and marijuana worth $8 million produced in grow-ops
in middle-class neighbourhoods.

The cash was laundered through several businesses and shell
companies.

Adolescents "are safer today," Anthony Pratapas of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration told an Ottawa news conference as the scent
of 125 seized pot plants filled the air.

"We decimated a major marijuana and ecstasy cartel," he said, calling
the popular dance-club drug "death pills masquerading as harmless
fun." The network also reached into Vietnam and other parts of
Southeast Asia, police said. But the heart of the criminal operation
was in Ottawa.

The alleged ring leader, Mai Le, 38, was arrested at her large brick
home on a busy street in southwest Ottawa.

Le and several siblings are charged with possession of pot for the
purpose of trafficking, money laundering, theft of hydro and other
related offences.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Gessie Clement said Ottawa police first
started the investigation as a probe into marijuana grow operations in
the capital.

In October 2002 it grew into an international "super team" of
specialized investigators.

Both U.S. and Canadian authorities said it was one of the biggest drug
and money laundering probes they've ever done. Officers raided 32
locations in the capital -- some apparent residences, some businesses.
They included eight marijuana grow operations.

Ottawa police asked a judge yesterday for permission to seize two
houses, a commercial building and two sports cars as proceeds of crime.