STREET CRIME UNIT ZEROING IN ON DRUG DEALERS

Marijuana is the drug of choice for traffickers in Antigonish and
Guysborough counties.

"That's the prevalent one," Antigonish/Guysborough Street Crime
Enforcement Unit RCMP Cpl. Ron Bryce said.

Bryce added ecstasy is also a "drug of choice," particularly in Antigonish.

"We don't find it as much in the rural areas, but it is around."

Bryce said powder and crack cocaine are also being sold in the region.

"That's happening more in Antigonish as we have been informed, but it
is also certainly possible in Guysborough," he added.

Unlike in other parts of Nova Scotia, particularly in Cape Breton,
Bryce said prescription drugs, such as Oxycontin, are not common.

"I don't know how to word it but Antgonish seems to be in its own
exclusive category in this regard.

"We are not finding a whole lot of that. We are certainly not
receiving any information about it being an issue," Bryce added.

Another widespread drug, particularly in western Canada, is crystal
methamphetamine, but it also doesn't seem to have reached this region.

"That's a great thing. It is certainly nice to see that it hasn't," Bryce said.

At full strength

Even though the street crime enforcement unit is not dealing with
some of the drug issues found in other parts of the country, it
certainly doesn't mean its four members are not busy.

"We are responsible for the reduction of organized crime, which is
our main mandate.

"For the most part, it includes drug trafficking investigations and
also investigations of property crime offenses, such as break and
enters and possession of stolen property, which often go hand and
hand with the drug offenses," Bryce said.

While focussed on street level drug and property crime enforcement,
the unit also strives to identify, target and apprehend subjects
responsible for drug and property crime in our communities.

Bryce said the unit gets involved at the "street level."

"We do more the short term projects - information received, we act
upon it and charges are laid. We do that type of thing," Bryce said.

Since last fall, the unit has been at its full complement of four members.

"We have been very successful. We have done more than 20 search
warrants," Bryce said of the unit's activities since his arrival last June.

Bryce added that activity includes the annual fall marijuana
eradication program in the region.

"We have seized a street value of more than $1.5 million of drugs in
Antigonish and Guysborough counties," he said.

Warrants executed

As part of the unit's busy last several months have been the issuance
and execution of several warrants, including one at a MacLellan
Street residence Feb. 26. During the search, police seized a quantity
of ecstacy and marijuana.

Two people were arrested inside the residence. A 19-year-old male
faces charges of possession of a controlled substance.

On February 16, the unit executed a search warrant at a Xavier Drive
residence, with police officers seizing a quantity of marijuana and
hash oil, along with extensive drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested a 20-year-old male, who now faces charges of
possession of a controlled substance.

On February 7, the unit, with assistance from the Antigonish
detachment, arrested a 19-year-old male who was travelling in his
vehicle. He faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance
for the purpose of trafficking. Police seized a large quantity of
marijuana and Canadian money.

The male was released and is scheduled to appear in an Antigonish
court April 21.

These charges came on the heels of several arrests made in late
January after a street level drug investigation escalated to one of
conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

With the assistance of the RCMP Truro Drug Section, Police Dog
Service Unit and Antigonish Detachment members, two local men, 19 and
20, were arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking after
being stopped on a rural road in Antigonish County on Jan. 27.

Police seized what they described as a significant amount of cash and
marijuana from the two men.

The investigation led to subsequent arrests, along with the execution
of a search warrant at an Antigonish residence, where more marijuana
was seized.

The investigation continued to the provincial capital where a Halifax
Regional Police Service Integrated Unit located and arrested a man
for possession for the purpose of trafficking. Police seized a
significant quantity of marijuana from the man's vehicle.

Eventually, police in Antigonish arrested a Montreal man the next day
in connection with the case.

The suspects have been released and will make court appearances next
month in Antigonish.

Investigations vary

Because of the different circumstances, Bryce said it is hard to
estimate the length of time for an investigation.

"It might be as short a time frame as two or three days.

"Often when the information comes in we have to act upon it quickly
because time is of the essence," he said.

Bryce added if a judge sees the information is a few days old, he or
she may be less likely to issue a warrant.

"If it is a one-day old thing or for example we have an informant
that observes something at a resident a day earlier or hours earlier,
which is even better, we can act upon it.

"It might be a really quick turnaround time such as a day or so," Bryce added.

With a longer term investigation, which could include multiple
sources of information, it could take longer.

"As an example, we laid charges for a major cocaine trafficker back
in December.

"That went on for several months because we had several people
working for us so to speak and providing information. We had to
combine it all and it took a little bit longer in that case," he said.

Help appreciated

Bryce said the unit's main course of action comes from information
they receive from various sources, including other police officers.

"Of course, community members - both those who want to leave their
names and others who want to act as anonymous sources.

"That's where we get our evidence to hopefully have a search warrant
authorized and go take care of business," he said.

Bryce said people with information can come forward to the RCMP or
also provide assistance anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

"It doesn't even have to be through Crime Stoppers. People can call
the Antigonish detachment directly," he added.

Bryce said information about "odd behaviour" in the neighbourhood can
be helpful.

"There may be a residence with traffic that comes and goes for very
short periods of time, which is very indicative of perhaps a drug trafficker.

If someone sees that sort of activity, Bryce suggests he or she take
notes, including times or visits, license plate numbers and vehicle
descriptions.

"If they can, even identities of subjects that are coming and going," he added.

Although they are not a "huge issue" in Antigonish, Bryce said the
public can help police in the search for indoor marijuana growing operations.

"With something like that going on you might see covered windows of
course in a house or maybe people not living there - popping in every
week or so for a few minutes," he added.

'Fairly typical'

Bryce agreed it is difficult to quantify the level of drug
trafficking and use in Antigonish and Guysborough counties.

"It's all relative," he said, noting his RCMP service started in B.C.

"There are certainly bigger issues out there as a general rule.

"Even compared to other Maritime communities, I think the marijuana
and ecstasy prevalence in this community is pretty equal to other
similar sized communities," he added.

Bryce said there are no issues here that other parts of the Maritimes
aren't dealing with.

"It's there and it's fairly typical.

"I don't think any drug use or abuse has increased in the last year
for example. I just think our unit has had very good success in
recent months in acquiring information and being able to take some action."