LOCAL RCMP CONTINUES BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS

Since making a major drug bust as a result of an undercover operation
last year, Cranbrook RCMP has been keeping an eye on the problem of
drug trafficking in the city. Over the last months several suspects
have been arrested and charged. The latest arrests were made earlier
this month when several people were apprehended for possession of
cocaine and marihuana with the purpose of trafficking.

The total number of investigations into possession of cocaine with the
purpose of trafficking was 44 cases for 2006. While the number of
investigations was only slightly lower in 2005 with 41 cases, Corporal
Chris Faulkner with the Cranbrook RCMP explains the rate of cases
solved by filing charges rose drastically from 21 percent of cases
solved in 2005 to 57 percent solved in 2006.

Last year, two people were charged with possession of marihuana with
the purpose of trafficking, in 2005 only one person was charged.
Corporal Faulkner admits marihuana is not their main concern: "Our
efforts are going for the white stuff."

One change Faulkner has observed in the community especially over the
last two years was an increase in violence that appeared to be related
partly to drug trafficking and use. This observation, he explains, has
prompted the RCMP to be even more productive when processing initial
information given to the officers. Their tactic is to target drugs at
the user end, focusing on the dealers, and then work their way up.

Over the last years, drug use seems to be up, Faulkner says, but he
emphasizes enforcement has increased during the same period of time as
well, and he hopes the actions serve as a deterrent to other potential
dealers.

Cranbrook Mayor Ross Priest emphasizes that although the activity in
town seems to have subsided somewhat in the last while, fighting drugs
is still one of the items Cranbrook City Council has set as important
priorities for this year.

"In a perfect world, there would be no drugs in town," Priest says. He
knows, however, that in a realistic world drugs will remain on the
agenda.Therefore, the city continues to request from the RCMP they
continue to work on reducing usage and trafficking.

Corporal Faulkner asks people to contact their local RCMP detachment
or Crime Stoppers if they have any information or think they have a
drug dealer living in their neighbourhood.