Fraternity shocked by drug bust at Toronto chapter
Last Updated: Monday, June 30, 2008 | 6:32 PM ET
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Delta Kappa Epsilon officials reacted with shock Monday after learning a downtown Toronto chapter of the fraternity was raided by police over the weekend in a drug bust.
Police seized $126,000 worth of ketamine, cocaine and magic mushrooms from the fraternity's Alpha Phi house near the University of Toronto late Friday. Ketamine, also known as Special K, is an anesthetic that is sometimes used as a date rape drug.
Two fraternity members face drug-related charges.
David Easlick, executive director of Delta Kappa Epsilon International, said the group has a strict policy of no drugs in fraternity houses.
"This was an absolute total shock. There are drugs on campus and that sort of thing, but you certainly hope that they're not in the fraternity houses.
"We're a fraternity house. It's an association of young men who are going to college and hopefully are studying together, learning together, having fun together and presumably not dealing drugs together," said Easlick.
He said the house has apparently been open to renters for the summer, but confirmed that both accused are fraternity members.
Easlick said the allegations are "terribly damaging" to the fraternity and its alumni association is investigating the matter before deciding whether to take disciplinary action against the two accused.
Police said they seized nearly one kilogram of ketamine, more than 300 grams of powdered cocaine and some magic mushrooms.
"For it to be in such a large quantity that we got, we automatically believe that it was for the purpose of trafficking," said Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Egidio Roseto.
Wasseem Malleye, 29, an alumnus, and Yong Park, 21, an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, face several drug-related charges, including possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
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