Drug Kingpin Arrested

Police in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada have broken up a large drug operation. For once, they even captured the viper in charge of the whole operation.

As the result of a lengthy multi-jurisdictional police investigation two males were taken into custody yesterday after allegedly completing a drug transaction in a commercial parking lot on Ontario Street in St. Catharines.

Niagara Regional Police said those arrests led to the seizure of large amount of marijuana valued in excess of $100,000, cocaine worth about $5,000 plus a quantity of cash.

Police also seized a 2007 GMC pickup truck and a 2004 Ford pickup truck as offence-related property.

The morality unit and guns, gangs and grows unit subsequently executed a search warrant at a home on Four Mile Creek Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake where they allegedly found a large quantity of marijuana and a quantity of cocaine and cannabis resin.

Police said they also found a replica AK-47 assault rifle, two handguns and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition.

The total value of the items seized is in excess of $200,000.

The search was hampered by the fact the home contained a highly venomous Gabon viper reptile, police said. The snake was removed with assistance of the Lincoln County Humane Society.

Reptiles have a long history of dealing drugs, of course.