MORE STUDENTS SMOKED OUT IN PICTOU COUNTY DOPE STING

ALMA - Police keep arresting more students in a cleanup of alleged
lunchtime dope dealing and smoking near a rural Pictou County school.

Video surveillance has revealed up to 50 young people smoking
marijuana outside an Alma convenience store popular with
Northumberland Regional High School students.

That allegedly includes the 13 students arrested in a dramatic police
sweep of the store parking lot on Friday.

After watching the store for weeks, RCMP used a helicopter, several
cruisers, 10 officers and a police dog to nab the suspects as they
hung around the variety store during the school's lunch break.

By Sunday, Pictou County RCMP had arrested a total of 22 students
allegedly caught on the videotapes. Before the investigation is over,
police expect to arrest at least that many more as they continue to
be identified from the videos, Cpl. Al Affleck said Sunday.

Only the 13 initially arrested face charges under the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act. Special provisions of the Youth Criminal
Justice Act will deal with the rest of the suspects, who are all
under the age of 18, Cpl. Affleck said.

Once arrested, those students and their parents are issued a formal
letter of caution outlining the offence. The records are kept in
police files, Cpl. Affleck said.

The measure forces the students and parents to be accountable for the
young persons' actions, and allows the suspects a chance to change
behaviour and make amends.

"It's an educational process," Cpl. Affleck said.