IT'S TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT ON THE ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE

As a weekend news story by Province reporter Glenda Luymes makes clear,
B.C. holds a prominent place in the world of organized crime. It is, in
fact, a "hub" for illegal drug production and distribution.

Our province not only has many of Canada's big marijuana grow operations.
It produces much of the country's ecstasy, which is exported all over the
world. And it is one of the top domestic suppliers of methamphetamine.

The story was based on the 2007 annual report by Criminal Intelligence
Service Canada, comprising scores of law-enforcement agencies. The report
quotes Vancouver's new police chief, Jim Chu, on the devastating impact
that addictive drugs can have on individuals, families and society in general.

Now, some will say that B.C.'s booming drug trade and the violence
associated with it are the inevitable result of Vancouver being a major
port city. They argue that port cities around the world, from Marseilles to
Hong Kong, suffer the same kinds of problems.

But, in our view, the biggest reason why drug traffickers and other
gangsters love it here is because, over the years, we've made it so
comfortable for them.

They know the chances of getting caught are slight -- and that, if caught,
the penalties are light, if not laughable.

No, if we really want to curb organized crime, we must stop being so
welcoming to it. Instead, we must do everything in our power to be
unfriendly toward the illegal drug trade.