little fish swim to catch the bigger fish

Reading an article such as this is always a sort of good/bad feeling. I mean, it is always good to read that criminals higher up than the small town drug pusher on the street get busted, severly hampering the whole drug trade. So that is always good. However, the bad feeling I get is that the situation on the drug trade has progressed so badly that there was such an intrenched system already in place that was not busted quicker. Granted, 5 months for a sting of this degree is very commendable, but I still have this feeling in my gut that the drug scene in Calgary, as well as many other places, is just getting out of control. Like when you go to the doctor for a major pain in your stomach and after 5 months of testing they find out it is a bleeding ulcer that, if the other symptoms of the body had helped out, could have been founded, stopped and treated much earlier in the game, and yet without it being found, the body has suffered and, perhaps some body parts, hurt beyond a point where easy healing can be done. Though, knowing how tight lipped people, especially those in the crime circles, are either out of fear of retribution from the drug gang members, or possibly cause if the drug addicts narc on the drug pushers, then the druggies don't get their fix, the 5 months for this operation is definitly something to salute at.

The only other thing that has me concerned is the names of the people that are in the report as the arrested people. Knowing the southern Alberta/Red Neck population of areas around there, I bet the red neck bars, as well as businesses, were just a buzz with the usual talk about bringing foreigners in to Canada and then having them conduct their illegal ways where if they did that in their own country would be killed or tortured, but in Canada get nothing. If they were really just landed immigrants, then chances are they are going to be sent back to their country of birth (if that at all) and then will be back in a year or two under different names possibly if they are really part of a bigger drug gang thing. But, who knows, maybe they were just your regular home grown Canadian citizens by birth and this is just another case of a Canadian being arrested for a huge drug operation.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/05/24/4204220-sun.html


$4M cocaine bust in Calgary
By SARAH KENNEDY, SUN MEDIA

In what's being called the largest cocaine bust in Alberta history, Calgary police seized more than $4 million worth of the drug believed to be headed for small-town Alberta.


The investigation -- led by detectives Mark Hatchette and Paul Wozney with assistance from the drug and gang units and the Edmonton Police Service -- spanned five months and also led to the seizure of numerous assault rifles and the arrest of a known Edmonton gang member.


More than 35 officers were involved in the busts that took place Monday and Tuesday on two homes -- one in the 4400 block of 33 Ave. S.W. and the other in the 100 block of Brightondale Parade S.E. -- as well as in two BMWs, each with a significant amount of cocaine stashed in hidden compartments, said Hatchette.


"This is extremely significant and we're very confident this is the biggest cocaine bust in CPS history," he said.


In total, police seized 40 kg of cocaine, 10 guns including five assault rifles, three handguns, and two shotguns, ammunition stashed in hollowed-out battery chargers, steroids and hash.


Police also discovered a machine that manufactures ecstasy tablets and imprints them with the signature of a tiny alien head.


The arrest of three men, including a gangster known to Calgary and Edmonton police, will seriously impact the distribution of cocaine within southern Alberta, said Wozney.


"These aren't street-level guys," he said. "These guys are the top of the heap and now they can't sell it to the mid-level guys who can't sell it to the street-level dealers.


"The coke is nice to get off the streets, but in terms of public safety, the firearms are very significant."


Police are investigating whether the Edmonton gangster, who has been recently residing in Calgary, has ties to local street gangs.


They have also sent the guns for ballistics testing to determine whether they have been used in any crimes.


Staff Sgt. Monty Sparrow of the drug unit said because there is about 200 kg of cocaine coming into Calgary on a weekly basis, the real impact of this bust will be in the rural areas.


"The majority of drugs that come into Calgary don't stay in Calgary," he said.


Jonathan Wai Kan Ung, 27, is charged with 51 drug and weapons offences, Jonathan Joseph So, 22, is charged with 37 drug and weapons offences and Duyen My Tang, 25, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime.