RCMP AIM TO CAST LIGHT ON DRUG HOUSES

Is there a drug house in your neighbourhood?

That's just one of the questions Oliver/Osoyoos RCMP are asking as
part of an eight-page questionnaire they are offering to residents of
those communities.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said the goal of the questionnaire is to assist RCMP
in identifying where drug houses are located within the communities
and find out how these houses are impacting neighbourhoods.

"We want to get a handle on how prevalent the issue is," said
Moskaluk. "We might uncover some residences that we are not (aware
of)."

Moskaluk said tips and information from the public can prompt RCMP to
set up surveillance on a home and could assist the police in
successfully obtaining a search warrant and eventually making arrests.

"It's a challenge to come up with sufficient information from a
variety of sources to get a warrant," said Moskaluk. "In order for us
to provide the best police response, it is important for us to have
the most comprehensive information from a variety of sources and
investigative techniques."

Neighbours are often the closest to the activity and therefore might
be able to pinpoint certain patterns, he said. Three years ago
residents of Osoyoos' Harbour Key Drive helped RCMP make several
arrests when they began monitoring a home that was being used for drug
sales. Neighbours watched the house, wrote down licence plate numbers
and posted signs saying the street was a drug free zone and was being
monitored for drug activity.

And in a more recent several-month long investigation at a South
Okanagan home, Moskaluk said neighbours again helped police by marking
down trends in traffic at the house. That case also resulted in
arrests and charges.

Taking a proactive role is a way to ensure that neighbourhoods remain
safe, as drug houses often bring with them other illegal activities
and can have direct impacts on neighbours. Whether it be grow
operations or trafficking, drug houses are often linked to organized
crime and can bring with them other illegal activity. Those driving in
and out the drug house might be under the influence of drugs and
alcohol, the presence of a drug house makes it easier for
neighbourhood youth to be drawn into drug activity, and residents can
become the direct or indirect victims of associated crimes.

Along with the questionnaire, which asks about activities at the
house, a description and other observations, the eight-page form also
directs residents on how to fill out a victim impact statement. This
will tell police how the drug activity has impacted individual
families or neighbours.

Those who would like to make an anonymous complaint about a suspected
drug house can either leave their name off of the questionnaire or use
the form as a guide to file a complaint with Crime Stoppers. Copies of
the questionnaire can be picked up at the Oliver and Osoyoos RCMP
detachments.