DRUG COPS TURN UP HEAT ON TRAFFICKERS

Police say they are cracking down on drug pushers who have infested
Broadway SkyTrain station.

"We know there's a problem at the Broadway station, but it exists from
Broadway all the way to New Westminster," said Const. Anne Drennan.

She said police are beefing up patrols at Broadway, adding there is an
ongoing "sting" which has contributed to the arrests of several
dealers over the last few weeks.

The bigger problem, she said, is eliminating drugs along the entire
SkyTrain route.

"We are concerned about displacing crime when we crack down on one
area," said Drennan.

Karen, 31, who lives two blocks from Broadway station with her three
teenage sons, said Broadway station is crawling with pushers.

She said police pay too little attention to the station.

She said RCMP pay more attention to drug dealing at the Metrotown
SkyTrain station in Burnaby because it's in a higher income
neighbourhood.

"Metrotown isn't the entire problem," said Karen, who didn't want her
last name published.

"Broadway (station) is a huge problem and sooner or later someone is
going to get killed. Metrotown gets all the attention because of all
the stores around there. No one cares about Commercial Drive.

"I fear for my children's safety and my safety as a
woman.

"Mark my words, a child will die and then people will pay
attention."

She said her neighbours want a meeting with police to discuss the drug
problem, similar to a meeting held last week in Burnaby.

The Province checked five SkyTrain stations over two hours and within
minutes of getting off the train at Broadway and Metrotown, dealers
were offering drugs.

At the Broadway station a man in his 20s openly propositioned
us.

"Coke? Coke?" he asked, while a group of five others watched for signs
of police.

When we declined, the dealer smiled and walked off, looking for his
next prospect.

Within 10 minutes, he successfully complete three drug transactions
just steps from the SkyTrain entrance.

It was similar at Metrotown.

"Hola, hola!" said one dealer. "You want rock? You want
rock?"

Rock is crack cocaine.

When we declined, he told us to "have a nice day."

Before we left the station, he did a deal behind a concrete pillar
under the tracks.

He also approached kids coming home from school. They didn't buy his
drugs.