RCMP DRUG SECTION TO STAY IN TRURO AREA

TRURO -- The RCMP's drug section here will remain intact, but will be
moving to neighbouring Bible Hill.

Despite suggestions early this year that a review of RCMP resources
could spell the end of the Truro section, an RCMP spokesman said
Monday no officers from the drug section of the RCMP will be
reallocated.

"The decision was made not to move any positions. . . . That notion
was abandoned," Const. Frank Skidmore said.

Local politicians didn't know how to react to the news.

"I haven't been formally notified but I can tell you that drug section
is absolutely pivotal," Truro Mayor Bill Mills said. "It was an
effective, successful group in an area that needs drug enforcement
officers."

As far as the MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley is concerned,
it's a moot point.

"They already gutted the drug section and from what I'm hearing, the
drug section is down to one person -- everyone else has been seconded
elsewhere," Brooke Taylor said.

"The numbers aren't even close to what they should be or even to what
they were two years ago," he said.

Const. Skidmore said the complement of drug enforcement officers will
remain at six, but only two are serving in the Truro area.

"These officers work on cases that bring them all over the province,
all over Canada, for that matter," said Const. Skidmore.

"They work at a high level, an international level. . . . This is not
street drugs," he said.

Law enforcement officers believe the Truro area is a sort of
crossroads for drug trafficking. Buses and trains provide easy
transportation links for couriers and drugs moving to and from
Moncton, Halifax and Cape Breton.

Both municipal and provincial politicians jumped on the issue when it
arose, writing letters of protest to the federal justice minister and
holding meetings with high-ranking members of the RCMP.

The other Nova Scotia RCMP drug sections are in Halifax, Yarmouth and
Cape Breton.

The drug section, customs and excise, major crime, polygraph, and
police dog services will relocate to a building in the AgriTech Park
in Bible Hill.

The move will make way for another bit of good news in this
area.

By 2007, all RCMP operational communications in this province will be
handled from a building in this small town.

The Prince Street building that houses the other sections and services
will be vacated by the end of this month so that extensive renovations
can take place.

When the renovations are completed, 50 staff members will control all
communication traffic for the RCMP in this province.

The change means 38 communications officers working in Halifax and in
Yarmouth will move to this area.