NEW POLICE TEAM ON THE STREETS SOON

However contentious borders are in this county, there is one group
that ignores them completely: drug traffickers.

They'll be one of the primary focuses - specific organizations and
specific individuals - of a seven-officer, multi-departmental police
team, which is slated to start its duties at the beginning of April.

"That's going to be our first area of enforcement," said New Glasgow
police chief Lorne Smith.

Its formation fills a niche in policing, which in this county, has
been without adequate resources for a number of years. The unit will
also focus on organized crime.

Up until recently, the closest police department able to dedicate a
unit towards drug movement and trafficking, was Halifax.

"The information we're obtaining is that this was an area that was
ripe for enforcement because there didn't appear to be any fear of
being caught, and there didn't appear to be any fear for what would
happen if you did get caught," Smith said.

On a smaller level, police also believe that a high percentage of
violent crimes, are in some way connected to drug use or trafficking.

"One of the reasons why we identified the need (to focus on drugs) -
from the chiefs in Pictou County and myself - we're saying a lot of
the break and enters, the thefts, are all related to drugs. You go
back to the drug user, wanting to supply his or her habit," said
Staff Sgt. Ross Landry of the Pictou County District RCMP.

Beyond police, Landry said the community needs to speak out about
drugs in their areas, "To say that we're not going to tolerate drugs
in our community, illicit activity in our community."

"When there are drugs in the community, that's because there is a
certain tolerance to allow it to be here."

Smith said police in Pictou County have been able to make headway,
employing joint-force operations. A joint operation between RCMP, New
Glasgow and Trenton police departments resulted in a drug bust
Monday. Police confiscated quantities of crack cocaine, marijuana,
cocaine and ecstasy tablets in that venture.

But while they make a dent in the drug scene, their effects aren't
always permanent.

"In the past, we have done joint forces operations, targeting
specific individuals in relation to illegal drugs - and they have
been successful."

But Smith adds, "You do your job, you reach that level of success -
and eight months later, your problem is right back where it was."

"We need the bad guys to know that if they perform their function in
Pictou County they're going to be caught and they're going to be
prosecuted. And they need to understand that it's not just going to
be a temporary thing."

"And we'll be going after them full bore."

Smith, along with other municipal chiefs and members of the Pictou
County District RCMP will also strike a joint management team to
oversee the police unit. The unit will be housed within the New
Glasgow Police Services building.