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Page 10 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, April 2. 1997 ROMP Seize Drugs Raids Lead to 48 Charges and Confiscation of Hand-guns The table in the RCMP's Drug Section in Bowmanville was covered with compressed bricks of marijuana, a batch of 50-gram bags of heroin, and three loaded unregistered hand-guns. It was part of a haul resulting from seizures in Toronto and Montreal last Tuesday, March 25. Sgl. Vcrn Secord, of the Bowmanville Detachment of the RCMP, explained to reporters on Thursday morning, March 27, the seizures took place "during the early morning hours of Tuesday, when officers from this detachment carried out raids in the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal." The raids were part of a six-month investigation into illegal possession and distribution of drugs which also included hashish and opium. The three kilograms kilograms of heroin, 11.7 kilograms of marijuana, and two kilograms of hashish have a street value of $796,400, Sgt. Secord said. Police did not say what the 8.5 grams of opium is worth on the streets. In total, 48 charges were laid against nine individuals picked up by the RCMP. The charges include: • three counts of Possession of a Restricted Weapon; • three counts of Possession of Stolen Property; • two counts of Possession of a Narcotic for the Purpose of Trafficking; • 28 counts of Trafficking in a Narcotic; and, • 12 counts of Conspiracy to Traffic in a Narcotic. The individuals who have been arrested arrested and are before the courts range in ages from 49 to 23, and live in cities which include Toronto, and Etobicoke, North York, and Mississauga. One of the residents residents is being detained, pending Canada Immigration and Citizenship inquiries. Sgt. Secord noted'that one of the hand-guns was a semi-automatic. It was explained during the media conference the marijuana is most likely from Mexico, with the heroin being from Afghanistan. Firefighters Practice Water Rescue A wet dummy used by the Clarington Fire Department during a water exercise last Tuesday morning, March 25, was successfully fished out of, the frigid waters of Lake Ontario in Bowmanville. Last week, the firefighters donned their cold water survival suits, grabbed their inflatable boat and headed out to retrieve the simulated accident victim during during the training exercise. Upon their return to dry land, they placed their "patient" onto a backboard. -- Photo by Laura J. Richards MAJOR HAUL -- Sgt. Vern Secord shows part of the haul made by RCMP's Bowmanville Detachment Drug Section during during an investigation into the possession and distribution of heroin, marijuana, opium and hashish. Unregistered hand-guns were also seized. Durham Briefs New MRI Unit Arrives At Oshawa Hospital The Oshawa General Hospital is getting a special delivery delivery this week. A long-awaited Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit (MRI) was due to arrive on April 1st from the Philips Medical Systems manufacturing plant in Holland. Magnetic Resonance Imaging provides detailed pictures pictures of the body without ionizing radiation. The new unit was to be unloaded by forklift and rolled down the hallway through a specially created opening in the magnet room. The opening will then be sealed and the magnet re-packed for protection while construction of the MRI suite is completed around it. The MRI is expected to be fully operational by late May. Having this level of diagnostic ability available in Oshawa will mean that Durham patients will no longer have to wait for an MRI examination in another centre. The MRI is also an essential component for the new Durham Community Cancer Centre which is in the planning planning process. The unit was purchased with funds raised by the "Keeping the Pace" campaign and the Hospital Auxiliary. Plaza Evacuated in Ajax A shopping plaza in Ajax was evacuated for over five hours on Thursday, March 27th, after several people complained complained about a strong smell of gas. A total of 33 people went to hospital, complaining of nausea, but tests conducted conducted at the Royal Scott Plaza and the Harwood Place Mall found no evidence of a leak. Concern about a possible gas leak began at 7:50 a.m. at the Royal Scott Plaza on Hunt Street. The plaza was closed for a couple of hours while the area was checked by Ajax Fire Department and Consumers Gas. However, their investigation turned up nothing. By 11:25 a.m., the fire department received more reports of gas fumes at the nearby Harwood Place Mall. Several people were taken to hospital by ambulance. They were suffering nausea. At approximately .12:15 p.m., the decision was made to evacuate the plaza. Tests were conducted in the buildings and surrounding a'rea by officials from Regional Ministry of Health, Environment Canada and Team 1 Environmental Services Air Monitoring Group. Still, no cause for the incident was determined. The plaza was re-opened at approximately 6:00 p.m. Regional Police Announce Appointment of Deputy The Durham Regional Police Services Board has appointed 49-year-old Derek Denson, a staff superintendent superintendent with 29 years of police experience, as the new Deputy Chief of Administration. Deputy Chief Denson began his police career with the Toronto Police in 1968 and in 1971 joined the Ajax Police Department, which was amalgamated in 1974 as part of Durham Regional Police Department. In 1977, he moved to the Criminal Investigation branch where he achieved tire rank of detective. In 1988, Denson was promoted to Staff Sergeant and moved to the Administration Branch of the Service. While there, he was project leader on the implementation of the 911 system in Durham. He was also co-leader on the implementation of the computer aided dispatch system and mobile data terminals installed in the Region's police cruisers. Denson was promoted to inspector in 1991 and in 1994 attained the rank of superintendent. In June of 1996 he was promoted to the position of staff superintendent. GM Information Officer Named The appointment of R.A. (Roy) Campbell, 45, to the new position of Information Officer for all General Motors Canadian activities, including GM of Canada Limited, General Motors Acceptance Corporation and Motors Insurance Corporation, is announced by Maureen Kempslon Dnrkes, president and general manager at GM of Canada, In his new assignment, which is effective April 1, 1997, Campbell joins the GM of Canada Strategy Board and will directly interface with General Motors Corporation's North American Operations (NAO), and NAO Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing Information Officers. 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