21 FROM AREA CHARGED IN ONTARIO DRUG BUST

A year-long police investigation that centred on Sarnia reached a
climax yesterday when police charged 28 people across Ontario and
seized drugs with a street value of more than $767,000. A 14-year-old
youth in Toronto was among those charged with trafficking after police
traced a drug route that started in Toronto, went through London and
ended up in Lambton County.

"There is a supply route between London and Sarnia," said OPP Det.
Superintendent Jim Hutchinson.

While officers seized marijuana, cocaine, hashish, psilocybin and
Percocet tablets, the biggest stash taken was Ecstasy -- one takedown
in Toronto netted 10,000 hits of the drug that would sell for about
$350,000 on the street.

"The last few years Ecstasy has been the drug of choice because of
raves," said Hutchinson referring to parties where the drug is widely
available.

"This will put a dent in the Ecstasy market but it's not going to stop
drug demand . . . it's a profitable market."

He said Ecstasy is sold on the streets at four to eight times its
wholesale value.

Those charged include three persons from London, 12 from Sarnia and
six from Lambton County.