POLICE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO SNITCH ON DRUG-THROWING DEALERS

Residents Near Leclerc Penitentiary Urged to Report Seeing Objects Launched
Over Walls

In a bid to stop drug-filled tennis balls and arrows from being hurled over
prison fences, Leclerc penitentiary officials and Laval police have
launched a campaign asking the public for help.

Laval police plan to hand out more than 2,000 pamphlets in the coming days
to residents near the 44-year-old medium-security penitentiary, asking them
to watch for any suspicious behaviour.

The program aims to halt the practice of drug couriers using sports gear to
send narcotics to their customers in detention.

"A problem has developed, over the years, touching on the entry of drugs
inside (Leclerc)," said France Gratton, a spokesperson for the penitentiary.

"There are people outside the penitentiary who are bringing in drugs over
the fences, by using tennis balls with drugs stuffed inside or by using a
bow and arrows stuffed with drugs.

"Drug consumption causes security incidents, and the goal is to ensure the
security of inmates and the people who work in the prison."

The penitentiary in Laval's St. Vincent de Paul district has 481 cells,
making it one of the largest medium-security institutions in Canada. It was
built in 1960 and now holds 500 inmates.

The prison is bordered by an industrial park to the west and a railway line
to the south. The problem is a residential area next to the railway tracks.

"We have noticed that the delinquents who throw over the drugs cross
private properties to get to the train tracks," Gratton said.

"We ask people to keep an eye open and report any suspicious vehicles or
prowlers."

>From April 2003 to February of this year, authorities seized a total of
3.38 kilograms of drugs, mostly marijuana and hashish, worth an estimated
$207,000, inside the institution.

Drugs sell at higher prices behind prison walls.

Constable Marc Morel, a Laval police spokesperson, said expecting the
general public to snitch on drug dealers is not so far-fetched.

In February, Laval police arrested two people who were preparing to launch
tennis balls over the walls of the penitentiary.

The arrests resulted from a resident's tip, Morel said.

"It is an old neighbourhood where people know each other well. We're asking
them to inform us if they perceive anything suspicious," Morel said.

"We'll take it into consideration and respond as quickly as possible,
because we know it could be good information."