News (Media Awareness Project) - CN AB: Drug Charges On The Rise In 06 |
| Title: | CN AB: Drug Charges On The Rise In 06 |
| Published On: | 2006-08-08 |
| Source: | Banff Crag & Canyon, The (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-13 05:48:16 |
DRUG CHARGES ON THE RISE IN 2006
Banff Crag & Canyon -- The Bow Valley's two busiest RCMP detachments
have already laid more drug trafficking and trafficking related
charges in 2006 than they did in all of 2004. The pace of charges is
also more frequent than it was in 2005.
Many of the 2006 charges have originated from the combined General
Investigations Section for the valley that includes officers in both
Banff and Canmore.
As of Aug. 4, Mounties in the two communities had laid about 24
trafficking charges and another 27 possession for the purpose of
trafficking charges in 2006. Over 50 drug possession charges had also
been laid, with the vast majority of those in Banff. The tracking
charges included 11 in Canmore and 13 in Banff.
In comparison, Mounties dealt with only 11 trafficking cases between
them in the towns of Banff and Canmore in all of 2004, according to
Statistics Canada policing statistics.
While local Mounties didn't offer immediate comparative stats in a
news release sent out Friday, the number of charges related to
trafficking appears to be up considerably, said Canmore Const. Ryan Frost.
In Canmore, Mounties have also had some significant drug seizures
this year, including drugs -- mostly cocaine -- with an estimated
value of about $1.5 million from one traffic stop alone. A Surrey,
B.C. man is charged in that case.
Frost said the charges laid in 2006 have come against both locals and
out-of-town residents, with weekend busts more likely to nail
visitors than weekday busts in Canmore.
Sgt. Wayne Wiebe, the Banff detachment's commanding officer, couldn't
be reached for comment Monday on the growing number of Banff charges.
However, Mounties said in a news release that illegal drugs continue
to be one of the RCMP's priorities and public assistance is required
to help investigations.
"There has been a concentrated effort by the Banff detachment,
Canmore detachment and the Bow Valley General Investigations Section
to increase public awareness and the number of drug seizures in the
Bow Valley for 2006," said the release.
Banff Crag & Canyon -- The Bow Valley's two busiest RCMP detachments
have already laid more drug trafficking and trafficking related
charges in 2006 than they did in all of 2004. The pace of charges is
also more frequent than it was in 2005.
Many of the 2006 charges have originated from the combined General
Investigations Section for the valley that includes officers in both
Banff and Canmore.
As of Aug. 4, Mounties in the two communities had laid about 24
trafficking charges and another 27 possession for the purpose of
trafficking charges in 2006. Over 50 drug possession charges had also
been laid, with the vast majority of those in Banff. The tracking
charges included 11 in Canmore and 13 in Banff.
In comparison, Mounties dealt with only 11 trafficking cases between
them in the towns of Banff and Canmore in all of 2004, according to
Statistics Canada policing statistics.
While local Mounties didn't offer immediate comparative stats in a
news release sent out Friday, the number of charges related to
trafficking appears to be up considerably, said Canmore Const. Ryan Frost.
In Canmore, Mounties have also had some significant drug seizures
this year, including drugs -- mostly cocaine -- with an estimated
value of about $1.5 million from one traffic stop alone. A Surrey,
B.C. man is charged in that case.
Frost said the charges laid in 2006 have come against both locals and
out-of-town residents, with weekend busts more likely to nail
visitors than weekday busts in Canmore.
Sgt. Wayne Wiebe, the Banff detachment's commanding officer, couldn't
be reached for comment Monday on the growing number of Banff charges.
However, Mounties said in a news release that illegal drugs continue
to be one of the RCMP's priorities and public assistance is required
to help investigations.
"There has been a concentrated effort by the Banff detachment,
Canmore detachment and the Bow Valley General Investigations Section
to increase public awareness and the number of drug seizures in the
Bow Valley for 2006," said the release.
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