SMUGGLERS FIND ROOM TO OPERATE AT PEARSON

Creative Steps Taken

More air travellers than ever before are smuggling drugs into
Mississauga, igniting concerns yesterday that the demand for banned
substances on city streets is rising.

"Certainly this isn't something that we want to see and it's a huge
concern for us," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Const.
Howard Adams in reference to the rise in drug seizures at Pearson
International Airport this year. "These things work on a
supply-and-demand basis. If there is a demand out there for these
products, then people will try and make money by supplying (buyers and
users) with what they want."

According to Adams, it's no coincidence drug trafficking in Peel
Region is up more than 16 per cent, according to the most recent Peel
Regional Police statistical report.

Pearson airport has seen a steady increase in drug smuggling this
millennium, according to records obtained from the Canada Border
Services Agency, formerly the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

Last week alone, Canada Customs officers seized more than $3.7 million
worth of ecstasy, cocaine and hash oil. It was the largest one-week
seizure at the airport in four months.

In 2001, Canada customs officers made 562 busts at Pearson,
confiscating more than $134 million worth of drugs. In 2002, those
numbers rose to 641 seizures and $147 million.

In 2003, drug smuggling skyrocketed to 756 seizures of drugs with a
street value of $215 million. So far this year, there have already
been 159 drug seizures. This puts inspectors on pace to make close to
1,000 drug seizures this year -- a modern day record at Pearson.

"You can tell there has been an increase, but I think the large
numbers also show our officers are doing a better job of keeping these
drugs off of the streets," said Canada customs spokesperson Bill Tu.
"(Those drugs would) be endangering the lives of residents in
Mississauga and across the GTA. We're happy that we're stemming the
tide."

Inspection of baggage has become much more vigorous and stringent
since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tu added.

Cocaine continues to be the imported narcotic of choice at Pearson,
making up more than half of this year's busts, records show.

Next on the list is marijuana, followed by hash.

A stimulant drug called Khat is relatively new to the GTA, but is
popping up in large numbers at Pearson.

Inspectors have already seized $1.2 million worth of the illegal
plant, usually smuggled in from Europe.

Tu maintained the increase in drug importing could be attributed to
more sophisticated methods of smuggling.

"People have become very creative," he said. Travellers are using
techniques like stuffing drugs in bread, hallowed-out shoes, and even
baby carriages, said Tu. The latest trend for smuggling coke is to
wrap it in condoms and swallow it.

"When they get home, they go to the washroom and extract the cocaine
by having a bowel movement."

A 21-year-old Mississauga man was charged last Tuesday night at
Pearson after customs officials nabbed $1.3-million worth of hash oil.