NAKUSP RCMP SAY MORE GROW-OP RAIDS TO COME

Cpl. Bryson Hill is making good on the commitment he made when he
first arrived here more than two years ago to crack down on
drug-related crimes in the area.

As reported in our Jan. 5 issue, Nakusp RCMP were recently involved
in two more drug busts both in Nakusp and the Slocan area.
Regionally, in 2010, the West Kootenay RCMP brought down 96 marijuana
grow-operations. This is an increase from the 88 sites that were
taken down in 2009.

That's a reported 35,000 plants destroyed in the last two years
according to the RCMP West Kootenay annual performance plan.

"We have been focussing on it, and we will continue to do so," Hill
told the Arrow Lakes News. "It's actually one of the priorities of
our main detachment."

Hill listed the top two priorities as targeting organized crime and
cross-border smuggling, both of which are usually involved in the drug trade.

And as for Hill himself, he says drugs is where his interests have
always lied, and as he said when he arrived, he's going to be
focussing his efforts on all drug activity.

"When I came in October, that's what I told everybody," Hill said.
"If you're doing drugs, dealing drugs, growing drugs, watch out. It's
not going to be as easy as it used to be."

In fact, since Hill arrived, he has been training his fellow RCMP
officers with himself and Cst. Shaun Foley of New Denver to give them
a deeper knowledge of the drug world.

"We both have been classified in court as experts at one point or
another," Hill said, speaking on his knowledge of various drugs. "Not
in all areas, but between he [Foley] and I, we're trying to teach the
other members different techniques and skills."

But the will and skills alone aren't enough to bring down drug
dealers. It also takes resources, which Hill is more than happy to
provide if it brings a result.

"It takes a lot of effort and time to do this stuff," Hill said. "For
instance, the last bust we did there in Slocan, one of the officers
worked a 24-hour shift to get that done."

Hill said other officers worked between 16-20 hours as well.

"That's just one day," he said. "That doesn't account for the
investigations leading up to that day."

"It is a big investment in our time," he added. "It is worth it given
the impact it can have."

Hill pointed out the firearms they seized in three of the their last six busts.

"People say that people sell and that it's no big deal," Hill said.
"We see the dangers involved. The risk to others in the community."

For instance, Hill said grow-rips can take place where those
hijacking the drugs take over the wrong house because the smell of a
marijuana grow-op has permeated throughout the area, for example,
leaving it hard to pin-point the exact home.

"There are times when these people who target the grow end up in the
wrong home," he said.

As for the future, Hill says 2011 will bring even more busts than the
last two years.

"We're in the meat and potatoes of the grow season for us," Hill
said. "Over the next four months, you'll be seeing a lot of things
being taken down."