Pubdate: Fri, 28 Sep 2007
Source: Truro Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: 2007 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.trurodaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1159
Author: Harry Sullivan

MAJOR DRUG RING 'OUT OF SERVICE'

TRURO - Wednesday's sweeping raids in Colchester County should deal a 
major blow to the illegal drug market right across the Maritimes, an 
RCMP official says.

"We believe that we have taken one of the biggest distribution 
networks out of service with this organized crime group," Cpl. Joe 
Taplin said yesterday, during a follow-up media briefing.

"So there is not going to be any amount of cocaine or illegal drugs 
on the streets of Nova Scotia or the Maritimes and especially in 
Colchester County."

During the nine-month investigation by the RCMP's divisional drug 
unit (which was co-ordinated out of the Northeast Nova drug office in 
Truro), Taplin said officers have observed kilos of cocaine, tens of 
thousands ecstasy pills and cigarettes being sold by members of the 
organized crime group while also making "numerous" purchases of 
illegal drugs from them.

While police did not showcase any confiscated drugs, Taplin said an 
undisclosed volume of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and cannabis 
resin was seized during Wednesday's raids on 11 residences in 
Colchester, Truro and Hants County. A "substantial" amount of cash 
was also seized, he said.

However, Taplin said the real blow to the drug organization will be 
felt through the RCMP's efforts to seize property under the Proceeds 
of Crime Act, which essentially allows police to seize any and all 
property they believe was obtained through the proceeds of crime, as 
in money generated through the sale of illegal drugs.

So far, police have restrained eight residences and seized 35 
vehicles (including flashy 4X4 pickups, cars, motorcycles, ATVs and 
snowmobiles) and such household items as electronic equipment, TVs, 
refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers and computers.

One stolen vehicle was also recovered, Taplin said, and two used 
automobile dealership licenses (registered to Curtis Lynds and Sons 
Auto Sales and Burgoyne Auto Sales) have been seized.

"So, this is going to put a huge dent into their lives," Taplin said. 
"We've put a big dent into this organized crime group ...

"By seizing these items and restraining these residences ... makes it 
harder for them to get up and started again."

The existing warrants enable police to continue searching the 
properties until today, after which the owners will be permitted to 
continue living in them, he said. But until the cases have been 
settled through the court, the residences remain as property of the 
federal government. In the meantime, the residences are subject to 
continued investigation by authorities and the owners must maintain 
upkeep on the properties.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart