Mammoliti claims opium dens on the rise in Toronto, police say not so much
Mammoliti claims opium dens on the rise in Toronto, police say not so much
Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) has long been advocating for a crackdown on massage parlours. Interviewed by the Toronto Sun, he's made a new claim: that the city's massage parlours are doubling as opium dens. If that sounds a bit like Toronto could soon be the setting for the fourth season of Deadwood, it's because, according to Toronto police, this may also be an excellent work of dramatic fiction. From the bottom of the Sun story:
Toronto Police Acting Staff-Insp. Randy Franks said he’s not aware of an increase of heroin dens and they’re not a major concern for his officers.
“I suppose there may be some out there,” Franks said. “They are not a major concern at this time.”
He said Mammoliti hasn’t been in touch with drug cops seeking help.
Of course, I don't have any evidence that Toronto's massage parlours aren't engaging in the opium trade. And there may be sufficient problems with our massage parlour industry that still deserve a crackdown like the one councillor Mammoliti continues to call for. But for now it seems as if the police aren't chasing this particular dragon.
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