Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://torontosun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Rob Lamberti, Toronto Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) EAST-END DRUG LAB RAIDED Cops Say Chemicals Could Have Made $80 Million In Ecstasy AN ILLEGAL Scarborough drug lab that could have manufactured up to 4 million Ecstasy pills worth nearly $80 million on the streets, was raided yesterday by the RCMP. The Mounties' Clandestine Laboratory Team burst through the front door of a bungalow on Todd Rd., in the Sheppard Ave.-Brimley Rd. area, around 9:30 a.m. Inside, officers found a pill press and chemicals, including acetone, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, which would have made about 50,000 Ecstasy pills. "This is where they were cooking things up," said RCMP Cpl. Howard Adams. He said no one has been arrested yet. He said police also raided two public storage units in Scarborough that were allegedly used to store raw materials for drug-making. In total, all of the chemicals seized would have made 4 million pills, he said. Adams said the lab was also used to make the deadly and upcoming illegal drug methamphetamine. In other investigations, Toronto Police had recently found Ecstasy pills that were blended with methamphetamine, making them addictive. Neighbours said they noticed unmarked police cruisers on the street for the past three or four days and knew police were watching a house, but didn't know which one. On Tuesday, police parked in front of the drug-lab house, waiting for a warrant to enter it. The windows had been sealed shut, and neighbours said the blinds were never pulled back. Adams said he thought hidden Ecstasy labs are on the increase across the country. "I know there have been a lot of cases in the west and we're beginning to see more here as well," he said. "What we're finding now, though, is in the past it was in the industrial areas and rural areas, and now we're finding them (illegal labs) in residential areas as well," Adams said. He declined to reveal how police found out about the lab. Toronto Fire dedicated up to 17 trucks to the raid, in case something went wrong with the handling of the chemicals. One medical unit also attended. Health Canada officials were also at the scene to monitor the chemicals, but refused to comment. Adams said the emergency crews were called in because "we never know what we're going to find." SOLD OR RENTED? Neighbours said a new power line had been recently installed at the home. The bungalow had been put up for sale last year, but no one knew if it had been sold or rented. "It's pretty quiet there," Tricia Maughan said, adding she has only seen one person enter the home, and noticed he had painted the garage door in January. "Obviously, we prefer if it wasn't here," Maughan said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom