CITY DRUG HOUSES UNDER PRESSURE

Drug traffickers in Red Deer are on the run as Mounties have taken
down more than a dozen drug houses in the past year and have another
30 across the city under current investigation.

"I think we have forced drug dealers to be on the move more, as
opposed to being stationary," said Red Deer city RCMP S. Sgt. Keith
Janes, who heads the detachment's General Investigation Section.

"To some people that might not appear to be a good thing (but) when
they move everything they can actually be easier to catch when they
are mobile."

Senior RCMP officers say the busted drug houses and the ones under
current probes are in every neighbourhood of the city.

Over the past year, Mounties have conducted 180 drug investigations
across the city -- resulting in dozens of arrests and charges.

Police believe their year-long assault has resulted in many
traffickers abandoning the traditional stationary drug house
operation, and adopting run and hide strategies.

Janes said the dozen or more drug houses taken out of commission were
done through search warrants.

He said "numerous" other searches on drug houses were done without
warrants, often with the consent of home owners concerned about
illegal activities.

Janes said Mounties have also gone "door knocking", talked to
residents and have been granted consent to search.

As well, drug cops have conducted spot searches on vehicles and
people arriving at and leaving residences. Numerous arrests have
resulted, said Janes.

He said the arrested dopers range from minor players on the street to
major drug traffickers and launderers -- including a recent major
bust where police seized $200,000 cash.

"That in our opinion is a major player, and not only just for the
city of Red Deer," said Janes.

He said local detectives are still busy at work, receiving two to
three reports a week of new drug operations.

"We have 30 houses in the city that we are aware of today that are
concerns to their neighbours," said Janes. "They have been identified
either by the work the police have done in the neighbourhood and
responding to calls."

In spite of the RCMP's success in the past year, Janes said the local
drug trade is still at a "healthy base" and continues to expand and
infiltrate the community.

"Even in the four years I have been here we have gone from dedicated
drug houses to mobile drug units where drug dealers are using
vehicles as conveyances to move their drugs to and from, along with
their money," said Janes.

"I would say drug use and trafficking is consistently increasing with
the rest of the province and the economy."

Red Deer RCMP Supt. Brian Simpson noted the local detachment's
year-long success against the city's drug trade has also helped the
RCMP solve many other related crimes, such as neighbourhood car break-ins.

"A lot of our property offences do relate, unfortunately, to drug
use," said Simpson. "A lot of people with substance issues rely on
petty crime, property offences to support the drug use.

"As a result we see theft from vehicles, theft of vehicles and break
and enters," he added.

Meanwhile, the drug trade underworld will soon face a new RCMP
initiative that is certain to put many of the operations of remaining
drug houses in jeopardy.

Janes said the local detachment will launch a new community-based
program directed at drug houses this summer that is modelled after an
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) program called "Adopt a Drug House".

He said the program will partner with various municipal and
provincial agencies, and involve city neighbourhoods and volunteers.

"There is nothing secret about it. In fact, just the opposite. It is
going to be very overt and very hands on by neighbours and community
persons," said Janes.

"Right now we are looking at working with the city and getting their
blessing. It is being used by other police services across Canada.

"It is a program designed to fight drugs and drug houses."