DRUG THREAT SPARKS POLICE ACTION

Chilliwack RCMP are keeping a tight lid on the reasons behind a police
action around the New Mark apartment complex in the city's downtown
Wednesday.

But Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop confirmed an undisclosed number of police
officers were on the scene for several hours to prevent an alleged
threat being carried out related to the drug trade.

RCMP officers in marked and unmarked cars were seen setting up a
perimeter around the three apartment buildings at about 3 p.m., and
checking vehicles coming and going from the underground parking.

Dunlop said no evidence was discovered to confirm the threat was real,
but police had enough information on a "person of interest" to assume
it was possible and to commit the necessary resources.

She would not disclose the nature of the threat, except to say it was
"related to the drug trade."

"A lot of time these types of threats are not reported to the police,"
she said.

"The drug trade, even at the low levels, is a very dangerous thing to
do," she added.

When there are disputes, or a debt to pay, "they are not going to send
you a lawyer's letter," she said.

"They're likely going to deal with it in a different way, and we don't
want to see that kind of violence in our community," she said.

The police investigation continues.