MAJOR DRUG OPERATION HALTED

A major drug operation based out of Red Deer, but implemented
throughout several central Alberta communities, has been halted.

The Red Deer RCMP Subdivision Drug Section, in collaboration with the
RCMP Red Deer City Street Team, Olds Detachment, Three Hills
Detachment, Didsbury Detachment, Sundre Detachment and Lacombe Police
Services, announced that they had concluded a long term intensive drug
investigation, which targeted several area drug traffickers in Red
Deer and surrounding communities.

Approximately $90,000 worth of drugs were seized through police
under-cover purchases and the execution of eight search warrants at
private residences.

Drugs seized included cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamines,
psilocybin (mushrooms), cannabis marijuana, MS Contin and Vallium.
Also, two handguns, one shotgun, one assault rifle, explosives,
several bladed weapons and four vehicles were also recovered.

Forty-three individuals throughout central Alberta are facing over 150
drug, proceeds of crime and weapons charges, and according to Corporal
Goldstein of the Red Deer Drug Section, there will likely be ripple
effects caused by the bust, which should make trafficking and
purchasing drugs much more difficult.

"Any drug traffickers that are out there are going to be very
reluctant to sell to anybody now," said Corporal Goldstein.
"Especially to any strangers that they don't know. So the people that
have lost their supplier are going to find it difficult (to purchase
drugs) now without someone to vouch for them, or introduce them to a
new supplier to get product."

Of concern to local RCMP detachments is the vast levels of narcotics
seized, the potency of the drugs obtained and the numerous lethal
weapons that were possessed by the traffickers.

"The assault rifle and the two shotguns alone, those aren't sporting
guns," emphasized Corporal Goldstein. "Even the shotguns, they're
weren't duck hunting guns - they are tactical weapons - with composite
pistol grip stocks. One of them had a tactical flashlight on it,
similar to what's made for law enforcement and military use. That kind
of weaponry has no sporting value. They're strictly for neutralizing
humans."

Corporal Goldstein continued that the majority of the drugs seized
were cocaine and crack cocaine, which he admits was certainly
disturbing. As well, methamphetamines were also seized in large
quantities. All three substances are very harmful to users, and very
addictive, which Goldstein says causes very negative ripple effects in
local communities.

"Methamphetamine users - because it's a highly addictive drug - it's
nothing for an addict to have a $200-a-day habit," he said. "If it's
$200 a day, and they have no legitimate form of employment, how are
they getting the money to pay off their dealer? Through crime. So
they're usually stealing property and pawning it off, and purchasing
their drugs in that fashion."

Goldstein says that traffickers usually operate by providing clientele
with a cellular telephone number, and then meet customers in public
places, or they deal narcotics directly from their residence.

"There are still some traffickers that deal right out of their house,
but that is happening less and less these days," he said. "But if
you're living in a neighbourhood and there's one house in particular
that has a higher volume of traffic than what's usual for that
neighbourhood, that could certainly be an indicator. Especially if
(visitors) are there for short durations, say a vehicle comes there
for 10-15 minutes, and then another vehicles approaches... It may not
necessarily mean that it is a drug house, but it could certainly be an
indicator that it might be."

In regards to what the average concerned citizen can do to assist RCMP
detachments in their search and apprehension of drug users and
traffickers, Corporal Goldstein suggests a few simple tactics.

"Keep a running log," simplified Goldstein. "If you're able to, write
down the license plate number, and times that these vehicles are
showing up, and then provide that information to the local detachment
members. But don't do anything that could jeopardize your personal
safety in any way. Don't go outside looking at the license plate; if
you happen to get it, that's fine. If not, a description of the
vehicle and the times they were there is just as good.