30 arrested in club raid, drugs seized

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Student says he was forced to lie flat on the ground handcuffed for three hours in after-hours club
Mar 17, 2008 04:30 AM
Robyn Doolittle
Staff Reporter
More than 30 people were arrested yesterday in an early-morning raid on a downtown after-hours club.
Shortly after 6 a.m., dozens of police officers in riot gear stormed Comfort Zone on Spadina Ave., just north of College St.
Members of the emergency task force and drug squad seized cash and drugs, but were silent on further details, calling the raid a routine sweep.
A search warrant taped to the front window indicated police suspected marijuana, GHB – the date-rape drug – cocaine, ecstasy, PCP and ketamine, an animal tranquilizer, among others, were being trafficked inside the club, which is popular with the city's rave crowd.
Both users and dealers seemed to be targeted by police.
"Over 30 were arrested and they (confiscated) money and drugs. That's about all I can tell you. They're planning a press conference" for today, said Staff Sgt. Courtney Chambers.
A Ryerson student who was inside at the time said he was forced to lie flat on the ground handcuffed for three hours. He said it was announced inside, the club was being raided because of recent overdoses.
Online, clubgoers ranted about being targeted and many asked if anyone knew of a good replacement until Comfort Zone reopens.
Others noted that most of the "main guys" weren't even there.
Dan Burke, a booking agent for the adjoining Silver Dollar blues bar, said Comfort Zone is a successful business that doesn't need to sell drugs.
"I can assure you of two things: the club has never been a booze den. Liquor has never been served down there since its liquor licence expired more than five years ago," Burke said. "And two, if there are any drugs sold or purchased in there, the staff, management and ownership has no involvement in it whatsoever. There is absolutely no way the owners or staff were involved because I know all of them."
One witness estimated as many as 80 police officers descended on Comfort Zone. A TTC bus had been chartered to transport the charged individuals and a court services truck was also on site.
Some locals speculate the drugs come from the Chinese mafia, although a staffer said that was absolutely not true. "No bikers work there. No guns are in there and none of the staff are drug dealers."

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/346783