FANTINO URGES STIFF PENALTIES

OPP Commissioner Speaks Out On Drug Crime

Stronger punishment is what's needed in the battle against illicit
drug crime in Ontario, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said Friday.

"We need to have stiff sentences, certain and meaningful sanctions.
That in itself will be a deterrent," Fantino said after a graduation
ceremony for auxiliary officers in Orillia.

Ontario's courts must make sure sentences "truly reflect victimization
that is inherent to drug trafficking," he said, noting dealers "profit
from the misery of others."

Fantino said he doesn't buy into arguments that jail time does little
to lessen drug offences.

"Well, you know what? While some of these recidivist career criminals
are doing jail time, they're not committing more crime."

Orillia has suffered from a string of knife robberies by desperate
crack-cocaine addicts, a Crown attorney said this week in Barrie court.

Fantino linked communities' drug woes to organized crime.

"We're doing what we can to interdict on an international level. A lot
of the drugs that are hitting communities... are the food chain to
organized crime."