LEDUC RCMP ATTACKING DRUG CRIME

Drug crime cases in Leduc rose 71.7 per cent between 2003 and 2004,
stated a recent report on Leduc citizens' well-being.

The City of Leduc Genuine Wealth Survey found that in 2004, there were
26.4 drug crime cases per thousand people. The statistics are
considerably higher than the provincial average of 2.6 per 1,000
people, and Edmonton's rate of 2.2 per 1,000.

"Overall, arrests and seizures have grown extremely because of a very
large focus placed on the drug enforcement role," said Cpl. Steve
Irwin, with General Investigative Services (GIS) of the Leduc RCMP
detachment." Two extra officers added to the detachment helped greatly
as well.

"We feel that right now with the drug section here, we are one of the
top units in all of Canada for its size. We've been that productive,"
said Irwin.

"What we've found is that we've made it a very bad place for a drug
trafficker to do business," said Irwin. "That's coming right from the
drug traffickers' mouths."

Irwin points to a "take-down" day on Feb. 1, 2005, as a turning point
in Leduc's fight against drugs. After an eight-month investigation,
Leduc RCMP arrested 38 people and charged them all with drug
trafficking.

"It was a very rude awakening," said Irwin. "We didn't want the City
of Leduc to think 'oh my gosh, what's going on in my community?' but
city council was very supportive in saying 'it had to be done.'"

Leduc RCMP works closely with the Drug Action Committee (DAC), a group
created by city council in late 2004 to discuss drug awareness and
strategies in Leduc.

The DAC has brought in speakers, supported the Drug Awareness week at
Leduc schools, had a conference with Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke and
purchased a high-tech night-vision digital video camera for the Leduc
RCMP.

"We're actively involved in the community, especially in education and
providing support in making sure people are aware of what's going on,"
said DAC co-chair John Norton.

"I think it's really important that people start raising the awareness
level in their own community and neighbourhood and really identifying
potential situations," said Norton. "When you've got a neighbour's
house and there's traffic coming by 24/7 at all times of the day and
night there's something going on that just isn't right."

As to where the drug crime originates from, Irwin said Leduc's influx
is from Edmonton-based gangs.

"They have the stranglehold on the drug world (in the area) and Leduc
at one point was one of the top two or three places in all of Alberta
to sell cocaine but now that has changed," said Irwin. "We work very
closely with our gang unit (in Edmonton) and different sections to
monitor the situation."

Aside from the enforcement aspect, Irwin said that RCMP and DAC have
been effective in the "big brother" aspect of policing: getting users
the help they need from groups like AADAC and Cocaine Anonymous.

Unfortunately, it isn't enough to help some drug addicts. Irwin said
there have been a few deaths in the area due to drug overdoses. "All
of those people have been long-term users years and years on crack
cocaine," he said.

The DAC will be publishing a brochure of drug awareness information in
the coming months. For more information on the DAC go to www.leduc.ca