Pubdate: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 Source: Cambridge Reporter, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2001 The Cambridge Reporter Contact: http://www.cambridge-reporter.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1470 Author: Mary-Louise Skornyak COPS SEIZE ILLEGAL 'CHRISTMAS PRESENTS' Waterloo Regional Police seized a "substantial" amount of cocaine and marijuana Wednesday in a roadside bust that was part of an ongoing investigation into the local drug trade. As a result, two Cambridge residents, a man and a woman, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking. About 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and 2.3 kilograms of marijuana were found hidden in boxes wrapped as Christmas presents and stashed in the trunk of a car heading eastbound on Highway 401 towards Toronto. Information about the intended destination for the drugs was not available yesterday. "We had information they were in possession of illegal narcotics and set up surveillance," said Staff Sergeant Ray Massicotte, head of the regional police drug squad. Massicotte would only say the investigation was ongoing into drug activity in the Cambridge area - and it is continuing. Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, about a dozen members of the Cambridge detective branch, drug officers and uniformed patrol officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 401 eastbound near Milton. After following the target vehicle for some time, the officers "saw an opportunity" and took it to safely bring the suspect's car to a halt on the shoulder, Massicotte said. The driver and a passenger in the car were arrested without incident. Investigators later executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at an Edward Street residence in Hespeler. There officers seized a small amount of cocaine and about one kilogram more of marijuana. While officers still have to test the cocaine for purity, Massicotte said "it looks like it's right off the block and of very high quality." Staff Sergeant Wally Hogg, head of the detectives branch in Cambridge, said yesterday's drug seizure was "substantial for Cambridge." Police figures estimate the street value at $140,000. While celebrating the bust, Hogg didn't "think it will make all that big of a dent" in the local drug trade. "The information we have is that it is out there in copious amounts," Hogg said. "The 401 is a corridor for any municipalities along it for any type of criminal activity, including drug trafficking," Hogg said. Scott Hutchings, 31, and Paula Sebetovsky, 25, both of Cambridge, were each charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. They were both scheduled to make their first court appearance in Kitchener federal court yesterday. The maximum penalty for trafficking is life imprisonment, though it is rarely handed out. While some drug convictions warrant jail time, a growing number of others don't. A Cambridge man who pleaded guilty last month to running a home-grow marijuana operation for profit was sentenced to 20 months of house arrest. A Kitchener man in a similar case got 18 months at home. People under house arrest are free in the community under strict conditions, such as a curfew and community service. Typically, they are allowed out for work, to attend medical appointments or counselling, and church. In response this week, Cambridge city council followed Kitchener's lead by supporting a resolution advocating stiffer sentences in drug cases, particularly for home growers. In addition to the human and community costs associated with addictions, drug abuse leads to an increase in petty crimes such as residential break and enters, police say. When it comes to illegal indoor marijuana growing operations, there are inherent dangers related to faulty electrical wiring - - responsible for two fires in Waterloo Region to date - and toxic chemicals used to fertilize the plants. In other jurisdictions, pot houses have been booby trapped. "I think it's absolutely great" what Cambridge city council is trying to do, Hogg said. "It's nice to see local politicians echo the concerns of the police department and fire department." Massicotte said stiffer penalties will act as more of a deterrent. "I'm sure it would make them rethink their positions if some maximum sentences were given out," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth