COCAINE TRAFFICKING ESCALATES

While the number of actual arrests may be small, the percentages are
staggering. Reports from the Bracebridge and Huntsville detachments of the
OPP indicate that cocaine trafficking and possession charges have risen by
500 per cent in Muskoka over the last four years.

"There's been a definite upswing in the amount of activity that we're
seeing," said Detective Constable John MacDonald, a member of the Muskoka
Crime Unit working out of Bracebridge. "When I first arrived here eight
years ago, it was unheard of."

In 2002, OPP in Muskoka laid only two cocaine trafficking charges and two
possession charges. Already in 2005, 14 possession charges have been laid,
along with 11 trafficking charges, reflecting a gradual increase seen over
the last four years.

Just last week, Bracebridge OPP laid six of those charges after stopping a
vehicle and subsequently searching a Port Sydney apartment.

"Essentially, you have a number of dealers here, who are supplied by people
much further up the 'food chain' in city centres," said MacDonald. "Our
dealers go down to the bigger city centres, pick up their product and bring
it here."

According to MacDonald, the rise in cocaine traffic in Muskoka mirrors the
trends in cities like Toronto.

"We need an increased awareness on the part of the populace living here,
because it is going to have an impact on your communities and your
schools," said MacDonald. "Any kind of influx of drug use is going to
result in a sharp rise in property crime and violent incidents."

While police have yet to see any violent crime related to cocaine in
Muskoka, there are already examples of drug debts fueling property crime.
In early November, a Bracebridge court heard that a 31-year-old Bracebridge
man attempted to steal from a carwash in order to pay off money that he
owed for crack cocaine.

"From a policing standpoint, our uniformed officers have to be more alert
that drugs are passing through here," said MacDonald. "When they're
stopping motor vehicles, they have to be alert to signs that people may be
carrying this product with them."

MacDonald noted that the best way for police to apprehend users and
traffickers of cocaine is through public cooperation.

"There are a number of people that we have had information on that are
actively involved in the sale of illicit narcotics," said MacDonald, adding
that information, no matter how sketchy, is always valuable to police.

According to Constable Ted Smith, media relations officer with the
Bracebridge OPP, cocaine is a definite presence in local schools. The
one-time school liaison officer said that while he had not seen it
first-hand, rumours about the "hardcore" kids using cocaine are probably true.

"Is it a lot? I would say it's a very, very small percentage that's into
it," said Smith. "I would say that of the regular drug users, a very small
percentage are actually using cocaine or crack."

Calling it a "difficult drug," local Addiction Outreach executive director
Marie Lloyd said that cocaine use leads to, along with a host of other
problems, people "just not taking care of themselves."

"We work very closely with the probation and parole office, so we're seeing
more clients as your numbers suggest," said Lloyd, listing mental illness,
hepatitis C and severe depression as some of the possible effects on users.

"The numbers don't lie," said OPP Constable Harry Rawluk, media relations
officer for the Huntsville OPP detachment. "[Cocaine traffic] is
increasing, and our members are much more aware of it. "We're being more
vigilant, sharing more information and resources, and preventing these
drugs from reaching the streets."