Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON) Section: News, Front page, Pg A1, Crime Copyright: 2001 The Sudbury Star Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608 Author: Erik White Note: With files from the Sault Star POLICE CHARGE 30 IN DRUG RAIDS Two-Day Sweep Hits North Shore, Sault Drug raids were carried out Thursday in several communities along the North Shore, resulting in trafficking charges for 30 people, including one man from Sudbury. The police raids in Spanish, Massey, Elliot Lake and Espanola came one day after several raids in Sault Ste. Marie. The two-day operation is the product of a nine-month investigation called Project Mustang. Members of six area police forces, including the Elliot Lake and Greater Sudbury police, took part. Over the past few months, undercover police officers made numerous purchases of cocaine, hash oil and marijuana worth $30,000, setting up the series of raids. Derail Local Trafficking OPP Senior Const. Paul Hill of the East Algoma Detachment said the raids will help to derail drug trafficking in northeastern Ontario. "We're certainly hoping that it will have a long-term impact on the drug activity in the area and on the amount of drugs we see on the street," he said. Det. Insp. Moe Elbers, the deputy director of the OPP drug prevention division, said undercover officers were able to infiltrate street-level to mid-level drug dealers operating in the Sudbury and Algoma districts. Elbers and Sault police chief Bob Davies conceded, during a press conference Thursday in Sault Ste. Marie, that it is not a big drug bust. However, said Elbers, the investigation targetted the "cocaine crowd," and gathered intelligence to further other ongoing investigations. Davies said, "it is yet to be seen how much effect this has on the street-level drug dealers in this city. But if you look at the list, these are all people who have not been charged previously. In addition, it puts the message out there that police are active and watching. "But there's no doubt that there continues to be drugs on the street." Among those charged with trafficking a controlled substance include Normand Imbeau of Sudbury; James Belanger, Stacy Sauve, John Smith and Crystal Solomon of Spanish; John Christiansen, Jeremiah Duncan and Vanessa Trudeau of Massey; Benjamin Grose, Patrick Carew, Douglas Noble, Kathleen Scott and Dominic Salmaso of Espanola; Calvin Timbers of Webbwood, David Faulkner of Walford, Douglas Cameron of Elliot Lake. Certain individuals are also charged with other offences, including breach of probation. Fourteen others from the Sault Ste. Marie area have also been charged. Trafficking charges are pending on four other individuals. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth