DRUG SEIZURES UP, SAY POLICE

Drug seizures in Calgary have dramatically increased this year with
net totals jumping from merely a couple of million dollars to about
$14.5 million as cops see a spike in anonymous tips.

As of September 2008, police seized more than $2.3 million worth of
drugs but this year that soared more than six times.

Police attribute the increases to larger call volumes to Calgary's
Crime Stoppers, which received 136 more anonymoustipsfromJanuary to
September this year totalling 2,860, significantly higher than 2008
calls of 2,724.

The increased number of Crime Stoppers re-enactments, including
high-profile cases, has also led to the spike in calls, which helped
in 76 criminal arrests including gang-related ones, said Staff Sgt.
Colin Chisholm.

"We have been saying for quite some time that we need the assistance
and support of the community to help make Calgary even safer and the
public appear to be responding to that call and stepping up to the
place," said Chisholm.

"I firmly believe that the city is safer thanks to those that have
picked up the phone or visited the Crime Stoppers website to provide a
tip."