STAFF TURN OVER $91,000 FOUND IN MALL FOOD COURT

Suspected Drug Dealer Nabbed After Visit To Lost And Found

An alleged drug dealer was caught after cleaning staff at Polo Park
Shopping Centre stumbled across $91,000 in cash left behind in a backpack
in the mall's food court.

"We are always surprised at the honesty of people," said Winnipeg police
Const. Bob Johnson. "A lot of people finding $91,000 may not have turned it
over."

It's believed to be one of the largest seizures of cash related to drugs in
the city.

Not only did staff at the mall turn over the cash, they ultimately caught
the suspect the following day.

Daryl Ford, who is in charge of security at Polo Park, said the bag was
sitting on a chair at an empty table at the food court at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

As a result, a cleaning woman took the bag to the mall's customer care
centre. When staff opened it up, they discovered the money wrapped with
elastics in $1,000 bundles and called security, who turned the money over
to police. "I was quite shocked," said Ford, "We've never found that large
a volume of money."

Ford said staff at the customer care centre were told to call security if
anyone came looking for the backpack.

Sure enough, a man came by just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, saying that he had
lost a backpack. But when staff called security, he quickly left.

Ford said the mall has an extensive closed circuit TV system and he said
they began to track the man as he moved through the mall. At the same time
they were directing two security officers, via radio, toward his location.

Ford said the suspect went up to the second floor and quickened his pace.

Officers nabbed him just after he exited the mall through the second floor
east doors. "They did an extremely good job," said Ford. "We are extremely
pleased with all of our staff, they all followed proper procedure."

Johnson said it's not clear whether the man simply forgot the bag or was
leaving it for someone to pick up, adding that the suspect has refused to
co-operate with police.

Meanwhile, Johnson said when officers later executed a search warrant on a
locker at a U-Haul facility on Century Street, there was another surprise
waiting -- just over 2.7 kilograms of powdered and crack cocaine.

It's one of the larger seizures this year and police say part of a growing
trend. Earlier this year, police seized 17 kilograms of cocaine in a locker
in a north Winnipeg storage compound.

In 2001, police seized 20 kilograms of cocaine.

Charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and
possessing the proceeds of crime is Shu Tshung Wong, 30, of Vancouver.

Duty Insp. Frank Minaker said there is no evidence at this point to suggest
that the drugs are related to gang activity in the city.