Pubdate: Tue, 12 May 2015
Source: Telegram, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2015 The Telegram
Contact:  http://www.thetelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/303
Author: Glen Whiffen
Page: A1

NEW DRUG ON THE ROCK

Charges laid after RNC-RCMP team seizes cocaine, marijuana, MDMA and
shatter

Among a huge amount of illegal drugs seized last week in St. John's by
a joint RNC-RCMP drug team is a drug known as "shatter," a derivative
of marijuana, but much more toxic.

It is believed to be the first significant seizure of shatter in the
province and police are warning of the potential dangers of its use.

One man has been charged thus far in the operation, known as "Project
Titan" by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-NL).

Arlen Hodge of White Rock, B.C., has been charged with a number of
trafficking offences and will appear in provincial court in St. John's
today for a bail hearing.

A second man was also arrested during the operation and has been
released pending further investigation. Charges are expected against
this person, and possibly against others as the investigation continues.

Const. David Emberley of the CFSEU-NL said subsequent to Hodge's
arrest, investigators executed five search warrants in the St. John's
area last Tuesday.

The total amount of drugs seized was: 10 kilograms of cocaine with a
street value (after being broken down and diluted with cocaine-cutting
agents) of about $3 million; about 137 kilograms of marijuana with a
street value of about $2.7 million; two kilograms of pure MDMA with a
street value of $200,000; and, two kilograms of shatter with a street
value of about $200,000.

MDMA is a synthetic, psychoactive drug popularly known as ecstasy or,
more recently, as Molly.

Emberley said because shatter is new to the province, people need to
be aware of its possible dangers. He noted that THC, the chemical
responsible for most of marijuana's psychological (high) effects, is
very high in shatter.

"The marijuana we seize in Newfoundland and Labrador has a THC level
between 12 and 15 per cent. Hashish is about 20 per cent and (hash)
oil is about 30 per cent," Emberley said. "Now, this stuff shatter has
a THC level of between 80 per cent and 90 per cent, so it's far more
concentrated than marijuana, hashish or oil. People really have to be
careful with it if they want to consume it like they would marijuana.
They could find themselves in a temporary psychosis if they are not
careful.

"To my knowledge, there may have been some small, street-level
seizures of shatter in the province. But this is by far the largest
seizure of this new drug in the province. And it's something that
people need to use caution if they are going to consume this stuff. It
is a solid substance, brown or amber in colour. It looks like broken
glass, so I guess that's where the name comes from, and it smells like
hashish."

Emberley also noted the MDMA and the cocaine are likely the biggest
seizures of pure MDMA and cocaine in the province to date.

"Ecstasy is a drug very popular in Newfoundland. It comes in a pill
form and it also contains MDMA," Emberley noted. "The thing about
ecstasy is that it also contains other substances like colouring
agents, fillers, combining agents, and quite often other drugs as
well, like caffeine and methamphetamine."

"The way people consume it is like cocaine, they crush it up and snort
it."

The drugs were on display for media Monday at RNC headquarters. The 25
containers of marijuana formed a wall behind a table that contained
the other drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Matt