SMACKED!

Cops Bust 14 Heroin-Dealing Students

An undercover drug operation was abruptly halted this week when
startled cops discovered students were dealing heroin in three Toronto
high schools.

"These are heroin traffickers that go to school," Staff-Insp. Neale
Tweedy said yesterday.

"One of the frightening aspects of our investigation was the ease in
which fairly significant quantities of heroin was able to be obtained
by our undercover officer."

Police launched a probe in June after infiltrating a ring of dealers
trafficking heroin, cocaine and marijuana in the city's northwest.

It was only after classes resumed earlier this month that
investigators realized the dealers were operating in three schools:
Downsview Secondary, Yorkdale Secondary and Monsignor Fraser Catholic
School, all in the Keele St. and Wilson Ave. area.

Out of fear a student could overdose, police ended their project early
and, on Thursday, swooped down on 14 people, including two youths, and
charged them with 102 drug and firearm offences.

Officers seized $100,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and marijuana as
well as cash, a .32-calibre handgun and a .22-calibre rifle.

Two of the accused are students at Downsview, one at Monsignor Fraser
and another at Yorkdale. A fifth accused was recently expelled from
Downsview and police believe others who were arrested are graduates of
the three schools.

Cops assigned to the investigation watched drug deals take place in
school parking lots and in surrounding neighbourhoods, Tweedy said.

"Our officers have witnessed hand-to-hand exchanges in front of
Downsview," he said.

Heroin use among students remains low -- about 1% are believed to have
tried it compared to 17% of street kids. In contrast, 30% of students
have smoked pot.

Still, Tweedy said he wants parents to be aware the "extremely
addictive, dangerous drug" -- which is known to have killed with only
one use -- has entered schools.

"Heroin is a drug that's characterized as being used by street people,
and when we see it getting into the schools it's a real shock for us,"
he said. "These young students are shackling themselves to a life of
despair and perhaps even death."

Downsview Secondary is sending a letter home to parents Monday and
holding an information session Thursday.

All of the accused are Toronto residents.