RAIDS REAP MASSIVE COCAINE CACHE

Calgary Police Set Drug Bust Record With 40-Kilogram Haul

City cops have sniffed out a whopping 40 kilograms of cocaine, in what
the Calgary Police Service is calling the biggest drug bust in its history.

A five-month investigation into high-level drug trafficking has led to
the seizure of more than $4 million in cocaine, several automatic
weapons, handguns, ecstasy and $90,000 in cash after raids over two
days in two homes and on two BMWs.

"This is a significant drug bust and the biggest in Calgary police
history," Acting Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta of the organized crime
unit said yesterday, as cops displayed the massive seizure.

"It is a huge success for us and it gets these weapons off the street
where they pose a risk to Calgarians' safety," said Schiavetta.

The investigation involved Calgary's gang and organized crime units,
investigators from districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and the Edmonton Police Service.

The Integrated Proceeds of Crime unit and the National Weapons
Enforcement Team were also involved.

The latest seizure will hit the drug-trafficking business hard, said
Schiavetta, adding city gangs rely largely on drug-selling profits.

"Cocaine is the infrastructure of organized crime and street gangs.
The distribution of illegal drugs makes gangs work. This is a
community problem in which we need community help," he said.

District 4 Insp. Rob Williams said the raids put a "huge dent" in
Calgary's illegal drug trade.

"This is a serious amount of drugs and 38 bricks of cocaine is a lot.
But even though it was a major bust, it doesn't mean the drug trade is
stopped. But it shows the public we're hitting these guys hard and it
is having an effect," Williams said.