POLICE PUTTING A DENT IN THE DRUG TRADE

Taking drugs off the streets is an ongoing task for Peace River RCMP
and it often takes a combined effort of the community and police to
be successful.

Staff Sgt. John Haney said one of their biggest drug busts resulted
from a tip-off from a member of the public. Police responded to a
call that a person hid an amount of cocaine in the parking lot behind
the MacNamara Hotel, March 29. Upon investigating, 170 grams of
crack-cocaine was found under a rock.

Police have also executed a number of warrants that resulted in the
seizure of narcotics ranging from marijuana and hashish to ectasy.

"There is a diverse array of drugs as with any other community," said Haney.

He said it is often a situation of people coming into the community
just to sell their supply of drugs and leave again. He spoke of a
'borderless drug trade' in this respect.

"That's one of our higher priorities, watching out for the ebb and
flow of (drugs)."

Haney is particularily concerned with the violence involved in the
drug trade. He said small organized crime groups aren't hesitant to
use violence, though these groups are limited in numbers.

It is the responsibility of law enforcement to adopt a proactive and
stringent approach in dealing with the issue to lower the danger of
violence, he said.

Haney does not underestimate the importance of the public reporting
crime. Even if police are aware of a certain occurence, it can be an
added piece of information from a witness that can make the
difference in an arrest.