COCAINE CRIME A GROWING CONCERN FOR RCMP

Cocaine Trafficking In Campbell River Is Becoming A Major Concern For RCMP.

RCMP crime statistics for the first half of 2003 show cocaine trafficking
has increased 144 per cent from the first half of 2002.

RCMP have dealt with 66 cocaine trafficking offences in the first half of
2003 compared to 27 during the same time last year. Drug-related crime in
general is more of a problem than last year, with an increase of 57 per
cent in drug-related offences from 162 last year to 255 this year.

Drug-related crime isn't the only crime on the rise in Campbell River.

Car theft has also increased 45 per cent from last year - there have been
109 offences to date in 2003 compared to 75 last year.

Shoplifting has also increased over last year by 64 per cent, with 159
offences this year compared to 97 last year.

In his quarterly report to city council Insp. Larry Stright said the reason
for the increase is probably because a number of career criminals returned
to live in Campbell River earlier this year.

"In our first quarter report we expressed a concern that due to a number of
known criminals returning to our community Campbell River could expect to
see an increase in criminal activity," Stright said in his latest report.
"As you will note in this report that prediction has been validated with a
number of areas showing a dramatic increase in criminal offences."

Criminal Code offences have increased 24 per cent from 2763 in the first
half of 2002 to 3432 for the same period this year.

Stright said that increase is making it harder for his officers to solve
crimes, especially because officers are spending more time responding to
calls rather than investigating criminal offences.