STUDENTS HAND IN DRUGS TO DODGE OPP CHARGES

Dozens of area students handed over illegal drugs to
police during a routine sweep at two secondary schools on Thursday.

Members of Nottawasaga OPP and Barrie OPP paid visits to Banting
Memorial High School in Alliston and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High
School in Tottenham.

A police officer and a school administrator went into each classroom
and advised students of the search, said Const. Darren Milley.

Students were given the option of voluntarily turning the drugs over
to police, without fear of being charged.

As a result, 29 students from Banting and 20 students from St. Thomas
Aquinas voluntarily turned in drugs.

Two students from Banting and three from St. Thomas Aquinas face
charges of possession.

Two pocket knives were also seized from students at the Tottenham high
school.

The drugs seized, according to Milley, included a significant quantity
of marijuana, magic mushrooms and cocaine.

Milley said he wasn't surprised to discover students are in possession
of the heavier drugs.

"We are aware of the fact that a number of the heavier drugs are being
used by the youth population," he said.

The OPP conduct random drug sweeps at high schools across Simcoe
County.