SASK. MARIJUANA SEIZURES TOP 21M GRAMS

Drug enforcement agencies seized almost five times more marijuana per
capita in Saskatchewan than Alberta in 2003, according to a recent
RCMP report.

The high volume of Saskatchewan seizures is partially due to the
RCMP's success in roadway investigations, said Cpl. Brian Jones of the
RCMP.

"We've had a number of several hundred-pound seizures that have been
detected on Saskatchewan highways, which speaks to the work that our
traffic service members and our detachment members are doing in
conducting investigations during traffic stops," Jones said.

"There's no indication that those drugs were intended for
Saskatchewan, but what it does tell us is that there is a
cross-country trade in illicit narcotics."

According to the RCMP report, seizures conducted by the RCMP and
various Canadian agencies and departments involved in drug enforcement
resulted in 21,519,549 grams of bulk marijuana seized in Canada in
2003.

The largest seizure, 7,509,202 grams, was made in Ontario. Quebec
ranked second with 5,137,950 grams seized followed by British Columbia
with 3,785,155 grams confiscated and 2,257,820 grams seized in
Saskatchewan.

In comparison, 1,044,086 grams of marijuana were seized in Manitoba
and 1,360,626 grams seized in Alberta.

Good timing and good circumstances have aided Saskatchewan RCMP and
helps explain the discrepancy between marijuana seizures in the
Prairie provinces, Jones said.