COCAINE FUELLING ROBBERY SPREE

Cocaine has fueled a spate of recent robberies in Regina, the board of
police commissioners heard Wednesday.

Crime statistics show 40 cases of robbery in February of 2003, compared to
23 in the same period last year. There were 75 cases in the first two
months of 2003, compared to 61 in that time last year.

Deputy police chief Clive Weighill said that increase is attributable to an
increasing use of cocaine by city drug users instead of Talwin and Ritalin.

"It causes a different mindset in the drug user. It costs more money and is
more addictive," he told the board. "In almost every occurrence (the
robbery has) been a drug-related offence."

Police Chief Cal Johnston said the increased use of cocaine is a problem
for police.

"The experience in other jurisdictions is that where you have cocaine use,
you can see an increased number of robberies, increased violence."

During the recent robbery spree, fast food restaurants and gas stations
were particular targets. In some cases, weapons were visible.

Johnston said police believe there were three different small groups
responsible for the robberies. There is some connection to gang activity in
the city.

Police arrested two men and charged them with 22 armed robberies and one
charge of wearing a disguise. Another three individuals have been arrested
and charged with five armed robberies and 28 related Criminal Code charges.

"We analyzed the robberies, found out their characteristics, time of
occurrence, where they were occurring, did crime analysis and then went out
on a targetted basis and made the apprehensions," said Johnston.

Board member Vic McDougall, a city councillor, said the rise in cocaine use
was a concern and wondered who controlled the cocaine trade in Regina.

Weighill said both small criminal organizations within Regina and outside
criminal organizations with conduits into the city are responsible for the
cocaine in the city.

"There's no one single driver," he told the board.

However, the primary drug activity in Regina is still marijuana -- with
hydroponic grow operations in the city and surrounding area, said Weighill.

"For a very small amount of money you can set up a hyrdoponics operation,"
he said.

Drug offences are about the same as last year, with 51 reports under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act until the end of February compared with
53 in the same period last year.