Ecstacy Ring Broken up between Canada and the United States

Toronto, On. September 28th, 2006 —The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have arrested six persons and executed five search warrants in connection with the dismantling of an alleged exportation and trafficking of MDMA (the active chemical in ecstacy)ring operating between Canada and the United States.

Charged with Conspiracy to Export a Controlled Substance are:

1. NGUYEN, Chung My Huong , age 42, of Millennium Drive, Toronto

2. CHAO, Jung Chien, age 35 of Queen St. West, Toronto

3. BUI, Thu-Van V , age 45 of Ashley Avenue, Mississauga

4. PAN, Zhou Zong, age 24 of Blake Street, Toronto

5. VONG, Thin Sang, age 46 of Whispering Wood Drive, Mississauga

6. HA, The Tuan of Don Mills Rd., Toronto

This investigation dubbed Operation Northern Exposure was originally instigated by U.S. authorities in April 2005 (the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and targeted individuals based in North Carolina and New York who were responsible for the importation and distribution of MDMA. U.S. authorities identified the source of the MDMA in Canada.

As a result of this information, the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) began an joint investigation with the DEA, FBI and ICE in April 2006. It is alleged that large amounts of MDMA was being exported from Canada to the United States and much of the proceeds were being funneled back to Canada . Overall, since May 2005, U.S. Authorities have seized approximately 53,000 pills that are known to have originated from Canada. It is alleged that these individuals have conspired to export approximately 250,000 pills of MDMA to the United States worth five million dollars.

On September 28th, 2006, members of the RCMP, CBSA, DEA New York & New Jersey, conducted co-ordinated arrests. Numerous members of this criminal organization were arrested in Canada and the United States. Several search warrants were executed in the Toronto and New York areas.

" There has been several recent projects where the RCMP has investigated Canadian Based targets exporting MDMA to United States markets,” stated Superintendent Ron Allen, Officer in Charge of the GTA Drug Section. “This is a trend that authorities in both countries are aware of and are working in conjunction to address. The arrests today on both sides of the border has been successful in disrupting an organized crime group that has been taking advantage of the increased popularity of the club drug scene. Enough can't be said about the inherit dangers of participating in the club drug subculture and in particular with the latest trend of masking methamphetamine as MDMA. "

All arrested will appear in Old City Hall Court.

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For further information contact:

Supt. Ron Allen
RCMP
OIC of the GTA Drug Section
905-876-9670 office
905-299-6723 mobile

Patrizia GIOLTI
Canada Border Services Agency
(905) 803-5218.