POLICE BUST VILLAGE DRUG RING

Pair Of Suspected Dealers Arrested In Response To Complaints In Area

AN undercover police sting put an Osborne Village drug ring out of business
Wednesday as officers arrested two males suspected of peddling marijuana in
the busy shopping district.

The sting happened during the afternoon rush hour and was so quick few
people realized what was happening until it was over.

"It's great police are doing this and are being discreet about it," Gas
Station Theatre administrator Nicole Langevin said yesterday. "Our goal is
to see more arrests like this happen."

Police say the arrests of the two suspected street dealers was in response
to complaints that drug sales are becoming more and more open. At times,
some dealers behave like street hawkers advertising what they're selling.

Const. Bob Johnson said a 22-year-old man and 15-year-old youth were
arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Both were
later released on promises to appear. An investigation continues.

The area at River Avenue and Osborne Street, known as The Circle, has been
the base of street drug dealers for several years. They sell mostly
marijuana, but can also sell harder drugs like ecstasy, crack cocaine and
crystal methamphetamine. On good days they can make $200 to $300 a day and
are in cell phone contact with other dealers should they run out of supplies.

Police say many of their clients are high school and university-age young
people, but that many adults are also buying.

The two suspects were arrested after they allegedly sold drugs to
undercover police officers in a parking lot outside the A & W in Osborne
Village. They had just returned to sit down to eat their hamburgers when
officers burst in and arrested them.

Craig Kitching, co-owner of the neighbouring Subway, said he's also glad to
see police take action, but he admits it's only a temporary fix.

"It's just like putting up a 'Help Wanted' sign," Kitching said of the
arrests. "Someone else will get off the bus and take over."

Kitching has long complained about the drug dealers, but they refuse to
leave because business is too good. "People know where it is and where to
find it," he said.

However, he added the problem has gotten better over the past year.

"I believe it's considerably better that what it was like at first, with
the unruliness and conduct," he said. "It's just got to be controlled and
managed better.

"Ongoing enforcement keeps it at a level that's tolerable and that society
can live with."