Crack Pipes Commonly Sold in Surrey Stores

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crack pipes in surrey

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Through email, I have been made aware of an ongoing effort by Lisa Ebenal and Dianne Watts and their families to draw attention to the sale of crack pipes and other drug paraphenalia in gas stations and candy stores in Surrey, British Columbia. There has been a lot of discussion around this issue, as well as many stories of encounters, and so I felt that it was something that should be brought to this forum, where people can post replies and also send in photographs relating to the story.

Here is one of the stories:

--HOSTILE-ESSO-SELLING-CRACK-PIPES-------------

***   ESSO Gas Station (Imperial Oil) / Banny's Market
                        604-590-3596    1-800-567-3776
        Kulwinder & Gurjit Binning
        7631 - 128 St. Surrey
------------------------------------------------
Lisa and I entered the gas station and we immediately saw a large glass display case full of drug pipes next to the candy and the cash register. I asked the clerk specifically for a "crack pipe" and he produced a thin glass tube from behind the counter.
I asked him if it was for smoking crack and he said "yes".
I said "Wow, you're selling crack pipes and candy together on the samecounter?"
He replied "You want to buy both?"
Lisa told him that selling drug pipes next to candy in a corner store
where children shop is wrong.
I asked for the owner's name, but the clerk would not give it to me.
We continued to protest to the clerk.  Asking them to be more sociallyresponsible.
A woman then entered the store and claimed to be the owner.
When we explained our position, that, as parents, we did not want ourchildren to see drug pipes in plain view
beside the candy when we go to buy gas at our neighbourhood ESSO station,she said "I DON'T CARE".
We tried to continue the conversation about protecting children from
exposure to the world of drugs. She told us to "GET OUT!"
This whole conversation was recorded by CityTV Television News.
The situation almost got out of control when we were suddenly surroundedby several men who began to shout,
argue with us, call us names, and otherwise verbally abuse us.
Who they were, I have no idea.Just as it looked like they were going to get physical with us, the CityTVnews crew made their presence known. CityTV news were there to record the event which may have saved us frombeing assaulted.
By this time the woman was attempting to physically push Lisa out of the
door while Lisa was yelling "Don't touch me!"
When the woman saw the reporter she quickly retreated and hid her face
from the camera.
When I picked up the glass display case to show it to the camera,
the woman grabbed the phone and said she was calling the police.
I asked the clerk to show me the crack pipe again and he claimed they did
not have any crack pipes.
We left the store, but were subjected to further yelling in the parking
lot by the angry men,
some of whom had followed us outside.  The CityTV News camera recorded
this behaviour.
We got in our cars and drove away.

RUDE ENCOUNTER: Tom's Food Market. 10823-148 St, Surrey. 604-581-7616

----------------------------------------------------------------------
"At TOM'S FOOD MARKET, there was a large glass case of pipes sitting right on the checkout counter surrounded by bags of penny candy. While I videotaped, Lisa asked him if he was the owner, to which he replied 'Yes'.
When we asked his name he said 'Jim'.
Lisa asked him why he was selling pipes next to kid's candy, he replied that he did not sell pipes.
Lisa pointed at the display and asked him what was in the case.
He said he did not know what those items were. Lisa tried to continue the conversation, but the store owner started
yelling 'Get out!' HE came out from behind the counter in an aggressive manner, moving toward her.
I immediately left the store and filmed through the window as the store owner yelled at Lisa, who was slowly backing up toward the door. At one point he actually laid a hand on her, but she said 'Don't touch me' and he stopped. While he continued to yell at her, she exited the store. Once we were in the parking lot getting into the car,
he came outside to further verbally abuse her with loud insults, ricicule, and namecalling, until she was inside the car.
We then drove away."