Pubdate: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2002 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: David Kuxhaus Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) STAFF TURN OVER $91,000 FOUND IN MALL FOOD COURT Suspected Drug Dealer Nabbed After Visit To Lost And Found An alleged drug dealer was caught after cleaning staff at Polo Park Shopping Centre stumbled across $91,000 in cash left behind in a backpack in the mall's food court. "We are always surprised at the honesty of people," said Winnipeg police Const. Bob Johnson. "A lot of people finding $91,000 may not have turned it over." It's believed to be one of the largest seizures of cash related to drugs in the city. Not only did staff at the mall turn over the cash, they ultimately caught the suspect the following day. Daryl Ford, who is in charge of security at Polo Park, said the bag was sitting on a chair at an empty table at the food court at about 6 p.m. Tuesday. As a result, a cleaning woman took the bag to the mall's customer care centre. When staff opened it up, they discovered the money wrapped with elastics in $1,000 bundles and called security, who turned the money over to police. "I was quite shocked," said Ford, "We've never found that large a volume of money." Ford said staff at the customer care centre were told to call security if anyone came looking for the backpack. Sure enough, a man came by just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, saying that he had lost a backpack. But when staff called security, he quickly left. Ford said the mall has an extensive closed circuit TV system and he said they began to track the man as he moved through the mall. At the same time they were directing two security officers, via radio, toward his location. Ford said the suspect went up to the second floor and quickened his pace. Officers nabbed him just after he exited the mall through the second floor east doors. "They did an extremely good job," said Ford. "We are extremely pleased with all of our staff, they all followed proper procedure." Johnson said it's not clear whether the man simply forgot the bag or was leaving it for someone to pick up, adding that the suspect has refused to co-operate with police. Meanwhile, Johnson said when officers later executed a search warrant on a locker at a U-Haul facility on Century Street, there was another surprise waiting -- just over 2.7 kilograms of powdered and crack cocaine. It's one of the larger seizures this year and police say part of a growing trend. Earlier this year, police seized 17 kilograms of cocaine in a locker in a north Winnipeg storage compound. In 2001, police seized 20 kilograms of cocaine. Charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of crime is Shu Tshung Wong, 30, of Vancouver. Duty Insp. Frank Minaker said there is no evidence at this point to suggest that the drugs are related to gang activity in the city. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl