VALLEY METH SEIZURES CONCERN POLICE

With the help of the public, RCMP continues to crackdown on drug
trafficking in Carleton County.

Last Thursday evening, District 7 RCMP - along with the Woodstock Police
Force and the Woodstock Integrated Border Enforcement Unit (IBET) -
executed a search warrant on a home in Windsor, following the assistance
of the public.

During the raid, RCMP Sgt. John de Winter said, officers seized in excess
of 100 methamphetamine pills, a quantity of marijuana and over $1,000 in
cash.

"The amount of methamphetamine is a big concern to us to see popping up in
our communities," said Sgt. de Winter. "We are seeing it in this area a
lot more than we would like.

"The problem with meth, crystal meth and methamphetamine is they are
highly addictive, and it is hard for people to stop using meth once they
are hooked on it."

Sgt. De Winter pointed out using meth is also damaging to a person's well
being. He said officers are seeing more and more meth mouth - where a
person's teeth are disintegrated due to meth use - in users in the region.

"The thing with meth is it is not like other drugs where they (users) can
recuperate," he explained. "Usually it can cause a lot of damage to their
mind, and they can't come back to where they were (before using meth). It
is a nasty and devastating drug."

During Thursday's raid, a 38-year-old man was arrested and later released,
Sgt. de Winter said, but charges are pending.

It was the second search in recent weeks in which methamphetamine turned
up. He also pointed out police seized methamphetamine two weeks ago from a
high school student in the valley.

"So those are the signs we are seeing," he added. "It is very dangerous
for students to start seeing that type of thing being found in the school
system. So we want the public to be aware of it, especially parents."

Sgt. De Winter added District 7 RCMP drug enforcement efforts continue to
dismantle and disrupt the distribution and use of illicit drugs in the
area, but police cannot do it without assistance and co-operation of the
public. Drug dealers and criminals are not going to tell police of their
operations, he said, and there is where the residents come.

"Without the public's assistance, we can't really make any progress on
drug issues," Sgt. de Winter added.

"So we continue to ask for their assistance."