RCMP OFFICER WORKED HARD TO BECOME EXPERT IN WAR ON DESIGNER
DRUGS

SYDNEY - When Const. Steven Conohan is not at home in Newfoundland
coaching soccer, baseball or leading a beaver troop you may find him
in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Colombia, dismantling clandestine drug
laboratories.

During his 17-year career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the
Sydney native has become somewhat of an expert in the field of drugs,
specializing in designer drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine,
ketamine and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB).

"Early on in my career, drug enforcement became my forte," said
Conohan. "Actually, my first file as an RCMP officer I conducted a
traffic stop that ended up being a drug bust; the tone was set from
there."

Not satisfied with merely seizing these drugs, Conohan has studied how
they are dealt, the prices and how they are synthesized.

"After spending five years in uniform at my first detachment, they
recruited me to go into a specialized unit - a dedicated drug unit,"
said Conohon.

In the St. John's drug section, Conohan worked almost exclusively in
plainclothes in drug enforcement, wire taps, privacy act
investigations and interprovincial conspiracies.

"During that time, I was in charge of the coastal watch program and
drugs and organized crime program as an acting sergeant," said Conohan.

He was first qualified as an expert in testifying within the court
system in cannabis and, through repeatedly going to court and through
the investigations he was involved with, Conohon became an expert in
various types of narcotics.

"I am currently qualified as an expert in 13 different drugs," said
Conohan, "my speciality being designer drugs."

Conohan is the lead drug instructor for all of Atlantic Canada as
well as an instructor for the Canadian Police College in Ottawa in the
area of clandestine drug laboratories.

Throughout his years of service, Conohan has received two
commendations from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Chief of
Police, one B Division Commanding Officer's Commendation and a
lifesaving award from the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and
Labrador in 1998 for his dedication to drug prevention in the province
of Newfoundland.

In October, Conohan will travel to Bogota, Colombia, where he will
conduct further training on the dismantling of cocaine laboratories in
the country.