CHARGES TOP 30 IN UNDERCOVER DRUG OPERATION

A recent undercover operation netted police 20 drug-related and 12
weapons-related charges against local residents.

"It's local people that are trafficking drugs, that are making their
living dealing illegal drugs," said Staff-Sgt. Tracy Hardy.

Six men and one woman were arrested during the five-day operation
conducted by the Penticton RCMP's drug task force, with a warrant
still out for a Penticton man charged with three counts of trafficking
cocaine.

In total, 14 cocaine-related charges, two for methamphetamines and two
for marijuana resulted from the operation Hardy said was conducted
last month. Information on the results of the operation was released
Wednesday.

One man charged with trafficking cocaine, is also up on seven
weapons-related charges after police seized a loaded .25-calibre
handgun and a taser. Another faces charges in relation to a prohibited
weapon and a third will answer to five charges relating to the seizure
of weapons, an RCMP press release states.

Hardy said the two charges against a man dealing crystal
methamphetamine are particularly significant.

"A real concern of ours is the use of crystal meth and how it's
effecting the youth of the community," she said. "The fact that we've
managed to apprehend an individual trafficking crystal meth is a success."

The RCMP continue to look for information about the possible existence
of crystal meth labs in Penticton and area, she said.

Local drug enforcement issues and operations were also recently
discussed at a the Breakfast with the Mayor event. Insp. Dan Fudge
said then that "it's no secret that we have a cocaine and crystal meth
problem here in Penticton."

He said that since September, three RCMP officers have been assigned
to full-time drug enforcement and two previous undercover operations
resulted in the arrest of 16 people for drug trafficking.

Fudge said local RCMP as well as the Summerland and South Okanagan
detachments seized more than 3,700 plants and 42 weapons during a
February operation to bust marijuana grow-ops.