|
|
December 11/03
Quebec police pick up 25 minors in drug sting
CTV.ca News Staff
Police say a drug bust at two Montreal-area high schools has netted alleged dealers as young as 13 years old. A total of 27 people were arrested, including 25 minors, in a crackdown code-named Operation Schoolyard.
The students were picked up for trafficking in drugs -- mainly marijuana, police spokesperson Pierre Chouinard said.
"Most of them (the arrested) are students or were students at one of the two schools," he said.
Police said Operation Schoolyard was a four-month investigation that uncovered a highly organized network providing students with access to pot in the two schools.
Most of the suspects were students who allegedly distributed drugs to fellow pupils, said Insp. Mario Rainville of the municipal police force in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where the schools are located.
"They (dealers) already had lists of other students who owed them money," he said. "The dealers met clients directly either outside the schools or in isolated areas inside the two schools."
No staff members were involved in the alleged ring.
One student told CFCF News pot smoking is not unusual and that while the raid cooled things off, it probably won't make a big difference.
"I think there's lots of drugs at the school but even if the cops come, there will still be drugs at the school. They won't change anything," student William Brunet-Gauthier told CFCF News.
However, another student expressed relief there was a crackdown.
"School is for studying, not for smoking up," Andre Levesque said.
The 27 suspects were arraigned in court Wednesday on drug-trafficking charges. They were released on a promise to appear in court, and all were ordered to stay at least 200 metres away from local schools.
Police also sought six other suspects Wednesday.
With a report from CTV's Montreal affiliate CFCF