POLICE SQUEEZE ON DRUG SCENE PULLS PLENTY OFF STREETS;

Arrests Rise, Drug Use And Crimes Fall In City

A six-month crackdown on drug pushers who peddled their wares in
Niagara Falls took more than $800,000 in drugs off the city's streets.

The crackdown began in February after Craig Coates took the helm at
the staff sergeant's office at the Niagara Regional Police detachment
in Niagara Falls.

Coates discovered 80 per cent of crimes - particularly armed
robberies at convenience store and gas stations - were being
committed by individuals addicted to drugs.

Working with the Niagara Falls street crime unit, Coates launched an
all-our war against drug traffickers.

The police team conducted a slew of covert operations, resulting in
almost 200 arrests and a huge quantity of drugs and related paraphernalia.

The total cache of seized drugs reads like a pharmaceutical
inventory, with more than $2,500 in prescription pills such as
Oxycodone, Ritalin and Diluadid.

More than $73,000 in cocaine was seized and marijuana, with an
estimated street value of $760,000, was taken off the streets, as
well as a quantity of ecstasy, hashish and heroin.

Police also seized $15,000 in drug money.

NRP executive staff were so pleased with the results in Niagara
Falls, they have directed commanders at the other detachments to
implement similar programs in the communities they serve.

"The initiative was a complete success. We had a significant drop in
break and enters and robberies in Niagara Falls," said Donna Moody,
NRP deputy chief.

The zero tolerance initiative resulted in a five per cent drop in the
number of robberies and break and enters compared to the same time last year.

The decrease came at a time when other Niagara cities were recording
a sharp rise in criminal activity.

The number of robberies in St. Catharines between January and June of
this year increased 50 per cent over the same time last year.

Fort Erie robberies increased 80 per cent over the same time last year.

"When you target the street-level drug trade, you often make a
significant effect on other crime in the area. When you talk about
robberies or break and enters, a very, very large percentage of those
crimes are being done by people that are looking for proceeds to use
for drugs," Moody said.

The drug of choice these days, says Coates, is crack, a
highly-addictive form of cocaine.

The majority of armed robberies, he said, are committed by
individuals addicted to crack cocaine.

"The addicts don't even think about what they're involved in, they
just need the money for the drugs."

While he said he realizes the crackdown has likely resulted in only a
small dent in the amount of drug activity in the city, Coates is
proud of his accomplishments.

"We made a difference. It can be done, it just takes manpower and
funds," he said.

Many of those caught in the sting have subsequently pleaded guilty in
court. Some individuals have been fined, while others are now serving
time behind bars.

While the majority of those arrested were less than 30 years old,
there were several unlikely suspects.

A 61-year-old Avon lady was arrested in April after $10,000 in crack
cocaine was seized from a luxury home.

A 78-year-old man was arrested less than a month later after police
found him in possession of the potent drug.

"They tell us they had to do it to supplement their retirement
incomes," Coates said.

Several busts illustrated the degree of danger the officers are
putting themselves in on any given day.

An undercover officer posing as a drug buyer was robbed at knife
point on two separate occasions.

While the officer escaped injury, Coates said the incidents are a
graphic example of the violence that exists in the drug subculture.
While Coates has now returned to uniformed patrol, the squeeze on
street-level drug dealers will continue.

"I'll still be vigilant in regards to drug traffickers," he vowed,
adding the public should also be vigilant.

"The community needs to be aware of what's going on around them. They
need to be a part of the situation so we can solve the problem
together," Coates added.