SMELL OF DRUGS IN THE AIR BUT POLICE FILL NO BINS

Six Officers Walked By One Fan Smoking From A Tiny Pipe, And Didn't Even
Look His Way; Another Sneaks In Lawn Chair

"This is one of the busier gates and there's been nothing," said Toronto
police Inspector Bruce Crawford, looking particularly clean and comfortable
in his official white police uniform. "Not one thing."

"I'm surprised," he said.

Either surprised or a little naive.

Crawford wandered over to two orange bins shut tight with padlocks and
explained that these were for the mountains of drugs police expected to
seize from the hundreds of thousands of music lovers and lovers of other
things less pure.

"They're completely empty."

Yet, not 500 metres inside the gates, amid a wall of people streaming into
the concert yesterday afternoon, there was a definite something in the air.

Bleary-eyed Troy Anderson, a local lad, had been here with three of his
friends since early yesterday morning. And even without the tiny green metal
pipe he held to his lips and sucked on, it showed.

"I'm not causing any problems," he said in his own defence. He explained
that six police officers had just walked past him and didn't even look his
way.

The officers' actions -- or lack of action -- are in keeping with Toronto
Police Chief Julian Fantino's remarks leading up to the Rolling Stones
concert at Downsview Park that his officers wouldn't worry themselves with
petty drug possession.

In fact, police weren't even handling security at the gates.

A private company armed with metal-detector wands did that and they ran a
tight ship.

"They went through everything," said a man from Brampton.

"They took my Diet Coke," said his female friend. "That means they're
promoting obesity."

The blue-shirted security staff were meticulous.

They opened every zipper, rifled through every pouch and emptied every
pocket. Gone were third bottles of water that MC Dan Aykroyd, one half of
the Blues Brothers, said should be consumed at a rate of one an hour. People
were only allowed to bring in two.

It was frustrating for some, while others took solace in their small
victories passing the security gate.

While lawn chairs were expressly forbidden, one couple gloated that the
"bag" in which they appeared to be carrying their towels and snacks and
water, was actually a padded, fold-up lawn chair.

But by the time they were gloating, they were lost in the throngs of people
and Inspector Crawford was nowhere to be seen.