Pubdate: Tue, 01 Feb 2000
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2000, The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Page: A3
Author: Bob Mitchell, Toronto Star Peel/Halton Bureau Chief

TEENS BUSTED AFTER RECORD ECSTASY HAUL AT PEARSON

More Than 34,800 Pills Found During Body Search

Two Hamilton teenagers are facing charges after an Ecstasy shipment was
intercepted at Pearson International Airport.

More than 34,800 pills with an estimated street value of $1.2 million were
discovered during a body search of two passengers who arrived Friday night
on an Air Canada flight from France.

It was the largest total seizure of Ecstasy at Pearson and the 17,600 pills
found on one traveller was the single largest seizure of the illegal
chemical there, officials say.

The names of the teens, 16 and 17, are protected by the Young Offenders
Act.

Nearly 73,000 Ecstasy pills with an estimated street value of more than
$2.5 million have been discovered in body searches of five people returning
to Canada from France on Air Canada flights since Jan. 15.

``You would think the word has gotten out that we're watching for this
stuff,'' Canada Customs spokesperson Duncan Smith said.

Last year, only seven seizures totalling 12,925 pills worth $460,000 were
made at Pearson.

Nine people died in Ontario last year after ingesting the euphoria-inducing
chemical, which some health experts say can cause brain damage.

Drug officers say Ecstasy has become the drug of choice at raves and
all-night parties in Ontario, where the tiny pills, which cost pennies to
make, sell for $20 to $30 a pop.

Although users believe the drug is harmless, it is believed to affect the
central nervous system, increasing blood pressure and heart rate and giving
users a sense of euphoria to the point that they feel nothing bad can
happen to them.

Toronto police say numerous people were treated in hospital over the
weekend after attending at least two raves in clubs. It's not known whether
their reactions were caused by Ecstasy or another drug.

A coroner's inquest this spring will examine the popular drug and the local
party scene when it probes the death of a 21-year-old Ryerson business
student who died Oct. 10 after ingesting the drug at a rave attended by
3,500 people in an underground parking garage in Toronto.

The airport Ecstasy bust was part of more than $3.5 million worth of drug
seizures at Pearson in the last week, including 11.5 kilograms of cocaine
and 4.7 kilograms of hash.

Canada Customs spokesperson Duncan Smith said a 20-year-old Toronto woman
was arrested after arriving Saturday from South America. Customs seized 5.5
kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $1.1 million.
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