PROJECT TIP YOUR DEALER SCORES BIG

Abbotsford Police have seized a sizable quantity of drugs after
launching a new strategy to combat trafficking in Abbotsford's downtown core.

Const. Ian MacDonald said the department's bike squad and beat team
paired up and are targeting dealers in the area.

The officers are using a variety of methods, such as possibly using
undercover officers to make contact with drug traffickers and make arrests.

The project started on Monday and is already making progress, said MacDonald.

Within the first two days, officers seized 74 pieces of crack cocaine
of various weights, 51 flaps of heroin, several thousand dollars in
cash and five cellphones and electronic devices. "This is not a huge
area, so in a two-day period, that's a pretty good haul," said MacDonald.

The project, named Tip Your Dealer, was primarily launched because of
community complaints.

"We believe it's important to target drug trafficking because people
involved in the activity prey on local residents who are
drug-dependent, it causes disruption to downtown businesses and
creates a sense of fear for citizens trying to go about their daily
activities," he said.

Two Abbotsford men, aged 18 and 19, are facing drug trafficking charges.