ILLEGAL DRUGS MOVING INTO SMALL TOWNS

EDMONTON - Drug dealers looking for profitable new markets are increasingly
targeting smaller communities around Edmonton, the RCMP warn.

"Drug traffickers are out there infiltrating our communities and now what
we see evolving is a cycle of violence that I find quite disturbing," Supt.
Brian McLeod said at a news conference.

As an example of the increased drug activity, RCMP are pointing to a
seven-month undercover operation in Leduc that recently resulted in 35
people facing 88 drug-related charges. During the operation, officers
seized cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamines, ketamine and marijuana worth a

total of $68,000. Two handguns and $13,000 in cash were also seized. Many
of those charged were younger than 25.

"This should obviously be a signal to the magnitude of the drug
infiltration into that particular area of Leduc," McLeod said, adding that
the operation will be a springboard to tackling the problem in other
communities.

Although those charged were low-level dealers, RCMP believe it will still
have an impact on the larger problem.

"If we can take out a lot of the low-level customers, that will definitely
impact the higher-level structures," said Cpl. Wayne Oakes.

Increased activity in smaller communities is likely due in part to drug
organizations wishing to expand their reach past the city limits, said
University of Alberta criminologist Keith Spencer.

Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke said his town has seen an increase in car thefts,
assaults and break-ins, crimes that usually increase alongside the drug
trade. He says the town was taken by surprise when word broke about the
seven-month drug sweep.

"Talking to people yesterday and today, they were shocked at the scope of
the operation," Krischke said.

Reactions like that make it easier for dealers to infiltrate rural areas,
Spencer said.

"What makes the move into the rural areas easier is denial," he said,
saying most small towns don't want to admit there are drugs on their
streets. "No one is paying attention, and that's how it's able to get a
toehold."

Spencer said there is nothing new about a drug culture in smaller towns,
especially those near large cities.

Fort Saskatchewan's family services department started a drug awareness
committee in the fall of 2003.

"The Boys and Girls Club had done a survey in the schools, and based on the
results of that survey we thought maybe we needed some community
awareness," said Gail Steeves of Family and Community Support Services.

The survey showed students knew who was using drugs and where to buy them,
which took some by surprise.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 19, four men walked into a Leduc bar and
attacked a man, stabbing him in the abdomen. RCMP said the stabbing was
related to drug gangs.

Leduc's city council has already approved funding for two new police officers.