STUDENTS FACE DRUG CHARGES

New City Police Team Involved in Arrests

Nine teenagers are facing drug-related charges after a newly formed
police team swooped in on a Guelph high school yesterday morning.

Acting Sergeant Ben Bair said members of the force's new co-ordinated
enforcement team were at the school shortly before 9 a.m. when they
noticed a group of youths trafficking marijuana.

The police refused to reveal which high school they were at, but Bair
said it was chosen at random.

Once the deal was finished, the group of youths started to share the
marijuana through two hookah pipes near the school's office entrance
while the officers were watching, police report.

Police said one youth was found with about $30 worth of marijuana,
packaged for sale, along with some cash.

He is charged with trafficking.

The other eight youths were also arrested. Five were diverted to the
John Howard Society for drug awareness and three were charged with
possession of marijuana. Two of those three were also charged with
breaching a probation order.

Bair said the co-ordinated enforcement team will focus on different
areas of crime, including drugs and burglary. He said the team will
also continue conducting random inspections at area high schools.