CRACK DEALERS BUSTED

Coke is it in Winnipeg -- crack cocaine, that is.

Just ask city cops, who seized nearly 250 grams of the potent drug
Wednesday in two of their most recent busts.

"Crack is the drug of choice out there and we're trying to keep it off the
street," Vice division Insp. Stan Tataryn told The Sun yesterday. "It's
quite a concern to us because it's so highly addictive."

Following up on an ongoing investigation, the Winnipeg police drug unit
executed a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 500 block of
Arlington Street.

Two men aged 18 and 20 years old, were arrested after cops discovered 238
grams of crack along with 1,540 grams of marijuana packaged in 55 one-ounce
bags and $1,890 in cash.

The illicit drugs are valued at $42,000.

Police also seized a .22-calibre rifle and a semi-automatic .38-calibre
pistol -- another disturbing trend.

Tataryn said it's now commonplace for dealers to tote loaded weapons in
order to protect their turf and guard against rip-offs.

"The biggest concern is they're young and they're right into the criminal
life," Tataryn added, noting pushers usually sell to their peer group.
"They've got their drugs, their guns and they're set up."

Emanuel Bekit, 20, and Patrick Zielinski, 18, were charged with several
drug and firearm-related offences.

Later on Wednesday, police executed a search warrant at an apartment in the
700 block of Notre Dame Avenue, where they found 21 half-gram rocks of
crack cocaine, 56 grams of marijuana, $80 in cash and a loaded .22-calibre
rifle. The drugs have a street value of about $1,300.

Kevin James Lebarge, 28, and Raelen Sherback, 37, were charged.