COPS SEIZE ILLEGAL 'CHRISTMAS PRESENTS'

Waterloo Regional Police seized a "substantial" amount of cocaine and
marijuana Wednesday in a roadside bust that was part of an ongoing
investigation into the local drug trade.

As a result, two Cambridge residents, a man and a woman, were arrested and
charged with drug trafficking.

About 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and 2.3 kilograms of marijuana were found
hidden in boxes wrapped as Christmas presents and stashed in the trunk of a
car heading eastbound on Highway 401 towards Toronto. Information about the
intended destination for the drugs was not available yesterday.

"We had information they were in possession of illegal narcotics and set up
surveillance," said Staff Sergeant Ray Massicotte, head of the regional
police drug squad.

Massicotte would only say the investigation was ongoing into drug activity
in the Cambridge area - and it is continuing.

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, about a dozen members of the Cambridge detective
branch, drug officers and uniformed patrol officers stopped a vehicle on
Highway 401 eastbound near Milton.

After following the target vehicle for some time, the officers "saw an
opportunity" and took it to safely bring the suspect's car to a halt on the
shoulder, Massicotte said.

The driver and a passenger in the car were arrested without incident.
Investigators later executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search
warrant at an Edward Street residence in Hespeler. There officers seized a
small amount of cocaine and about one kilogram more of marijuana.

While officers still have to test the cocaine for purity, Massicotte said
"it looks like it's right off the block and of very high quality."

Staff Sergeant Wally Hogg, head of the detectives branch in Cambridge, said
yesterday's drug seizure was "substantial for Cambridge." Police figures
estimate the street value at $140,000.

While celebrating the bust, Hogg didn't "think it will make all that big of
a dent" in the local drug trade.

"The information we have is that it is out there in copious amounts," Hogg
said.

"The 401 is a corridor for any municipalities along it for any type of
criminal activity, including drug trafficking," Hogg said.

Scott Hutchings, 31, and Paula Sebetovsky, 25, both of Cambridge, were each
charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. They
were both scheduled to make their first court appearance in Kitchener
federal court yesterday.

The maximum penalty for trafficking is life imprisonment, though it is
rarely handed out. While some drug convictions warrant jail time, a growing
number of others don't. A Cambridge man who pleaded guilty last month to
running a home-grow marijuana operation for profit was sentenced to 20
months of house arrest. A Kitchener man in a similar case got 18 months at
home.

People under house arrest are free in the community under strict
conditions, such as a curfew and community service. Typically, they are
allowed out for work, to attend medical appointments or counselling, and
church.

In response this week, Cambridge city council followed Kitchener's lead by
supporting a resolution advocating stiffer sentences in drug cases,
particularly for home growers.

In addition to the human and community costs associated with addictions,
drug abuse leads to an increase in petty crimes such as residential break
and enters, police say. When it comes to illegal indoor marijuana growing
operations, there are inherent dangers related to faulty electrical wiring
- - responsible for two fires in Waterloo Region to date - and toxic
chemicals used to fertilize the plants. In other jurisdictions, pot houses
have been booby trapped.

"I think it's absolutely great" what Cambridge city council is trying to
do, Hogg said.

"It's nice to see local politicians echo the concerns of the police
department and fire department."

Massicotte said stiffer penalties will act as more of a deterrent.

"I'm sure it would make them rethink their positions if some maximum
sentences were given out," he said.