Pubdate: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Joanne Hatherly, and Louise Dickson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) COPS MAKE $650,000 DRUG BUST Suspect Called 'Supplier Of Suppliers' With Vancouver Gang Connections Cocaine and paint cans rigged to transport drugs were just part of the haul in what Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham calls one of the largest drug seizures in the force's history. Yesterday, police displayed $650,000 worth of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ecstasy pills, as well as tools of the drug trade, seized in a daytime takedown on Feb. 19, which began on a busy street in the heart of Victoria when police smashed a Nissan Altima's window to arrest a 36-year-old man. "He has been known to us for years," said West Shore RCMP Staff Sgt. Ian Lawson. He participated in the investigation, which culminated in two months of intensive work involving the RCMP, the Capital Regional District Regional Crime Unit and Victoria police. Victoria police Const. Conor King said the man had ties to Vancouver gangs, describing him as "a supplier of suppliers." Items seized indicate a sophisticated, gang-style organized drug operation, Graham said. They include three high-end vehicles -- a Nissan Altima sedan, an Infiniti FX35 SUV and a Toyota TRD Sport truck - -- two motorcycles, laptop computers, a multitude of cellphones and BlackBerry devices, food cans and paint cans with false bottoms designed to transport drugs, scales, ammunition, cans of bear spray and jewelry. Among the jewelry was an item Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton knows well: a ring from the Mann Cup -- the Canadian men's lacrosse championship -- stolen from his brother's home more than two years ago. It shows, Hamilton said, how drug operations permeate the city's crime scene. "Jewelry is used as collateral," Hamilton said. "If a customer doesn't have cash, the drug dealer will take jewelry instead, and that is why break-and-enters are so tied to the drug trade." Drugs seized from the arrested man's vehicles and Colwood home in the 200 block of Milburn Drive, and a downtown Victoria hotel room from which the drug operation allegedly operated, included 2.2 kilos of cocaine valued by police at $450,000, half a kilo of heroin with a street value of $188,000, 300 ecstasy pills valued at $4,500, 45 grams of crystal methamphetamine valued at $9,000, and $10,000 in cash. Police withheld the name of the Victoria hotel. Shortly after arresting West Shore resident Kevin Michael Vezina on Feb. 19 at Pandora Avenue and Douglas Street, police arrested his 26-year-old girlfriend on Gorge Road. Police have not released the girlfriend's name, but court records show Vezina's co-accused is Alicia Kelley Lambert, also known as Alicia Kelley Smyth. She has been released under strict conditions. Records show the two accused own the Milburn Drive house that police searched. Vezina remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and with possession of cocaine, metamphetamine and heroin. Lambert is charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Vezina's next court appearance is March 12. Police say those who believe their stolen jewelry is among seized items should contact Victoria police at 250-995-7444. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin