PROJECT TARGETING SPECIFIC NEIGHBOURHOODS CONTINUES

RCMP Arrest Suspected Traffickers

Launch of a special project by St. Albert RCMP's drug unit proved
highly successful last week, when police apprehended several youths
and an adult and charged all of them with either trafficking or being
in possession of illegal drugs.

In a single week, police caught and charged Clinton Gerald Piwowar,
24, with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and four
youths were charged with either trafficking or possession of varying
amounts of marijuana or cocaine.

"We've been targeting different areas in town with prolonged
surveillance and, using the intelligence we've been gathering, made
this a special project," said Const. Mike Moulds, speaking on behalf
of the drug unit.

The busts are coming from all corners of the city.

A 17-year-old young offender, apprehended in residential Deer Ridge,
was charged with two counts of trafficking in marijuana, as well as
one count of breaching probation and one of breaching an undertaking
with the courts.

Another bust, this time involving a 16-year-old charged with
trafficking in cocaine, took place in the Mission Ridge Shopping Centre.

Two more youths were found in a park and charged with being in
possession of marijuana. They have opted to go on alternative measures
rather than appear in court, said Moulds.

Under restrictions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act none of the
youths can be named.

Piwowar was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of
trafficking, possession of a weapon, driving a motor vehicle and
operating a vehicle while his driving privileges were suspended.

There was a warrant out for Piwowar on other unrelated charges when he
was spotted during last week's surveillance, Moulds said.

"There was a warrant out for his arrest and he was observed when we
were doing this surveillance. So subsequently we pulled him over and
arrested him on the warrant and the possession for the purpose [of
trafficking] with the cocaine," said Moulds.

Piwowar was placed in custody and appeared in provincial court in St.
Albert Monday morning. He was released under the recognizance of his
father following a bail hearing and will return to court Nov. 28 to
enter a plea to the charges.

The concentrated surveillance "has paid off immensely with last week
alone and we are going to be continuing on," said Moulds.

The officer won't reveal how long the project will continue or how the
unit determines what areas of the city to target. But the decisions
are made based on a combination of complaints from the public and
intelligence gathering.

"We get intelligence that these areas are particularly active. We'll
pick and choose which areas we have the manpower to do and we could be
anywhere in the city, at any time. Whether it's luck or good police
work, it's paid off."

The RCMP, backed by city council, created the special drug unit of
three members in 2003 to address concerns about a growing drug trade
in St. Albert.