DOPERS ON ROPES?

Cops Hope 36 Arrests In Sting Operation Will Discourage Street-Level
Dealers In Drug Trade

Edmonton police hope their latest 10-day sting targeting street-level
drug dealers, in which 36 people were charged, will deter others from
signing up for so-called dial-a-doper jobs.

"These are people in our communities selling drugs to our people, to
our citizens, to our children, in front of our schools, in our
shopping centres and on our streets," said acting Insp. Greg Preston.

"The focus was to indicate to drug dealers that there are
consequences."

Project Geld II, an undercover sting operation conducted in late
October, led to the arrests of 36 alleged dial-a-dopers ranging in age
from 17 to 44.

About 176 grams of cocaine, with a street value of $17,000, and a
small amount of marijuana, were also seized along with more than
$13,000 in cash and seven vehicles including two Jeep Grand Cherokees,
a Lincoln Aviator, a Nissan Maxima, a Toyota Camry Hybrid, an Acura
and a Hyundai Sonata.

Those 33 males and three females now face counts of trafficking,
possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds
of crime, and other criminal charges.

About $144,000 worth of assets seized will be forfeited to the
province to help victims of drug abuse and other crimes.

"(Dial-a-dopers) are at the bottom of the pyramid. But without the
bottom, there is no top so they are an integral part of this
particular drug-dealing scheme," Preston said, adding there are
currently efforts to bring down high-to low-level
dealers.

Preston said people are likely attracted to the trade due to the
current economic downturn, and the allure of earning a "quick dollar."

But the consequences are serious and can include criminal charges,
jail time, difficulty finding and maintaining employment and travel
limitations. Sometimes dial-a-dopers also have to answer to their drug
dealers and are held accountable for the drugs and money seized by
police, Preston said.

The sting operation involved members of the Edmonton Drug and Gang
Enforcement Team, Edmonton police patrol divisions, and the Alberta
Law Enforcement Response Team's Drug Undercover Street Team.

Back in March, the three-week Project Geld I sting led to the arrests
of 51 people, 120 charges laid and the seizures of $14,500 in cash,
six vehicles, and amounts of cocaine, crack and meth.

Preston said police are happy to see none of the 51 people charged in
March were among the 36 individuals arrested in the second sting.

However, he said it's troubling to see so many young people taking
their place.

"It's a very dangerous trade. We've seen a number of people injured or
shot in relation to drug activities," he said.

"But as we move forward with more of these projects, we certainly hope
it will be more difficult for drug dealers to recruit these front-end
people because of the costs associated with it."