WINNING THE WAR ON DRUGS IN CITY?

Police believe drug dealers are feeling the heat in the ongoing war to
stem the flow of narcotics in Red Deer.

Cpl. Steve Cormack, head of the city detachment drug squad, said on
Thursday that police raided a downtown house about 1:30 p.m. on
Wednesday but didn't find what they expected.

"We were looking for cocaine. Unfortunately, we didn't get any cocaine
but found a small amount of marijuana."

The timing was right but the cocaine wasn't present because the
suppliers may have been scared off by the ongoing police push, Cormack
said.

"The people we were talking to said the shipment was supposed to be in
the day before but because of the (numerous recent raids), the
supplier didn't want to bring it in."

Names haven't been released because the charges haven't been sworn yet.

Police also raided a hotel room and arrested nine people on Wednesday,
but again only a small amount of drugs was found.

The police pressure may have accounted for that as well, Cormack said.

In the bust at the house on 48th Avenue and 52nd Street, police
discovered "every type of knife you could imagine" including numerous
daggers, machetes and cleavers.

Two people were arrested on outstanding warrants and two others were
charged with drug and weapon offences.

Cormack said drug dealers seem to be getting the message that if
they're pushing drugs, the police will pursue and catch them.

Police have kept up a tireless effort this spring and summer to stem
the drug flow by busting two or more drug houses or hotel rooms a week.

Drug offences have more than doubled, with 622 offences reported in
the first seven months of the year, compared with 279 through July
last year, police statistics indicate.

A police crackdown on low- and mid-level drug dealers is responsible
for the increase.

Cormack said the message is that drug dealing is unacceptable in Red
Deer.

Changes to Red Deer RCMP's drug squad last year account for the
increased activity.

The squad became a street team and increased to five members from
four.

The street squad has assumed a wider mandate that includes tackling
drug-related crime such as property thefts that decreased eight per
cent through July compared with last year.

Meanwhile, two men facing charges of cocaine-trafficking and having
money in excess of $5,000 from the proceeds of crime were denied bail
in Red Deer provincial court on Thursday.

Phonsamay Milavong and Phouthavong Khamkhay are being held in custody
and are to return to court Sept. 14 to enter pleas.

The two were charged following the execution of search warrants at
their respective Red Deer homes, at 33 Lagrange Cres. and 56 Reichley
St. on Tuesday.

Both men face several charges of trafficking in cocaine, possessing
cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and with having money obtained
from the proceeds of crime.