COPS RATTLE DRUG RINGS

With more of their underworld colleagues behind bars this past week,
Ottawa's drug dealers have reason to be wary.

A series of recent drug raids and major undercover projects have left
some in Ottawa's drug underworld feeling a tad paranoid.

"There are at least three or four organizations looking over their
shoulders right now," said Ottawa Police drug squad Staff Sgt. Marc
Pinault.

The latest police operation targeted Ottawa real estate agent James
Kenny. Drug officers allege he is the ringleader of an international
hashish smuggling ring operating out of Ottawa.

Lots Of Charges

Kenny, 47, is now facing numerous drug-related charges. More than 20
associates, including his brother Brian, 52, have been arrested and
face drug charges.

Dubbed Project Angle, it was the fourth major operation in the Ottawa
area to end with large drug seizures and dozens of suspects in custody.

A week earlier, drug and patrol officers targeted dealers operating
along Rideau St. and across Lowertown. A month and a half before that,
Project Dracula swooped down on a local drug ring with Asian and
international connections. The high-level investigation culminated
with the confiscation of 62 kg of hashish and thousands of ecstasy
pills.

The joint projects have involved undercover officers gaining the trust
of high-ranking members before massive raids to collect drugs, guns,
cash, cars and other property.

"We caused a lot of embarrassment to a large organization by
infiltrating them," said Pinault. "They're very mistrustful of people
now who might rat them out or who might be a cop."

While police raids have also been coming down on marijuana-growing
operations in residential homes, the hardest hit might be the hashish
dealers.

In addition to the U.S. attacks on one of the drug's largest source
countries, Afghanistan, police have cracked down hard on drug
smuggling rings operating out of Ottawa.

Hash Shortage

"Our indication is there's going to be a shortage of hash worldwide,"
said RCMP Insp. Garry Clement at a press conference for Project Angle
earlier this week.

But shortages only mean higher prices, and in the lucrative drug
world, there is always another supplier ready to step up when another
is shut down.

"The shortage drives the prices up," said Ottawa Police Insp. Gary
Nelson. "There's a lot of money in it and someone else will start up
in their place."