COST OF COCAINE GOING UP

Border Security Hiked After Terrorist Attacks

RCMP say the price of cocaine in Edmonton is going through the roof and
they believe the terrorist attacks in the United States are responsible.

"The price of cocaine is up from around $42,000 a kilo to $47,000 or so,"
said RCMP Staff Sgt. Doug Carruthers.

"Supplies are steady but the price is going up because of the cost of
bringing the drugs in. The increased (border) security means they have to
use different methods to bring the drugs in and it is getting more
expensive," Carruthers said.

GRASS GROWN LOCALLY

He said the improved border security has not changed the price of marijuana
because it is produced locally.

"And the price of methamphetamine, which is also made locally, has been cut
in half," he added.

"I have no details of the price of heroin."

Carruthers said because the drug supply level was normal he didn't expect a
surge in gang violence.

"In my experience when the price goes up people pay what they have to pay,"
he said.

Edmonton Police Service spokesman Dean Parthenis said local drug squad
officers haven't noticed any jump in the price of drugs at the street level
yet.

"Our guys say it's illegal business as usual," he said, adding the drug
prices Mounties are referring to involve the larger dealers, who may
eventually pass the cost along to smaller dealers and addicts.

"Sooner or later (the price) will probably trickle down." Sgt. Jeff
Anderson said if that happens, the number of robberies, sometimes used to
pay for an addict's habit, may also climb.

ROBBERIES COULD INCREASE

"The potential for that does exist. If a bad guy is bound and determined to
feed his habit, and the price goes up, they may rob more places," said
Anderson.

So far for the year, Parthenis said the city has had 82 bank robberies and
313 commercial robberies such as convenience stores. Last year, for the
same period, the city had 15 bank robberies and 290 commercial robberies.

City cops aren't sure why the numbers have gone up. "It may have something
to do with the large number of parolees released back into the system (this
year). We're not 100% sure," said Parthenis.