RECORD METH HAUL BY POLICE

Search Uncovers Stash Of Coke, Meth And Cash

The Victoria police busted a "high level" middle man after making the
largest single seizure of crystal meth in department history.

After a joint, month-long investigation by the Victoria police,
officers from Central Saanich Police Department and the Combined
Forces Special Enforcement unit, 39-year-old Alexander Djafar-Zade of
Saanich was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession for the purpose
of trafficking. He was out on bail for two other drug offences that
occurred in December 2006 and February 2007.

Police stopped the man as he drove south along the Patricia Bay
Highway. A search of his vehicle uncovered one kilogram of crystal
methamphetamine worth an estimated $50,000 to $80,000 on the street.

They executed a search warrant to investigate the man's house in the
4300 block of Torrington Road. During a five-hour search, a drug
detection dog from the Canada Customs Border Agency helped uncover one
kilogram of cocaine with an estimated street value between $60,000 and
$80,000. Police also found a combined total of $15,000 in U.S. and
Canadian cash, a scale, a money counter and three cans of bear spray.

The man lived in the basement of the residence, which belonged to his
mother. She is not believed to be involved.

"This particular address was located one block from an elementary
school... And that's why we really made an effort to target this one
particular individual," said Victoria police spokesperson Sgt. Grant
Hamilton.

Police described the individual as a middleman who distributed drugs
from super labs on the mainland or south of the border to lower-level
dealers.

According to police, most crystal meth comes from organized crime
agencies in Mexico, who operate super labs in Washington, Oregon and
California and smuggle it over the border, or from outlaw motorcycle
gangs and Asian gangs with super labs on the Mainland or in the Interior.

The suspect was arrested while travelling from the Swartz Bay ferry
terminal.

"Anytime that you arrest somebody with this quantity of crystal meth,
it will make a significant impact, but like I said, (for) how long
remains to be seen," Hamilton said.

Ten years ago, a crystal meth bust of this magnitude would be unheard
of, he said.

"It's just an evolution of the drug culture in Victoria."

Police are recommending that the man be remanded in custody.