NEW DRUG SQUAD BUSY

St. Albert Mounties are battling that city's growing drug trade with a new
unit that's made two big busts after only weeks in operation.

The three-member team searched a home on Mission Avenue Monday, seizing
about $1,000 in drugs including a small quantity of crystal
methamphetamine, ecstasy tablets, 63 ml of GHB and various drug paraphernalia.

The following day, the drug unit and the RCMP-Edmonton police Green Team
searched a house on Afton Crescent and seized 45 marijuana plants worth
$45,000 as well as $5,000 in hydroponic equipment.

Cpl. Don Brown said until now no officer at the detachment had been
assigned to strictly deal with drug cases.

"I hope (the unit) makes a significant impact," said Brown. "Any increased
enforcement will help out."

Reports of suspected drug activity in St. Albert spiked to 275 cases in
2002 compared to 229 the year before, Brown said.

St. Albert RCMP Staff Sgt. Don Symiec said the unit is "off to a good
start" after starting up in mid-March.

Since January, Symiec said there have been 80 car break and enters where
thieves grabbed stereos and CDs. About 90% of those cases involved groups
in St. Albert and Edmonton who turned around and sold the items to buy
drugs - mostly methamphetamine, said Symiec.

A St. Albert home invasion Sunday afternoon was also allegedly spurred by
the drug trade, said Symiec.

Freeman Alexander Harris, 29, of Edmonton, has been charged with assault
with intent to steal, break, enter and assault with a weapon, break enter
and assault, extortion, uttering death threats, and resisting arrest.
Harris was also wanted on a nationwide warrant for suspension of statutory
release. He has been remanded in custody and is slated to appear in court
on Monday.

Jason Richard Head, 27, of St. Albert, has been charged with possession of
a narcotic. Myles Joseph Lacourciere, 21, of St. Albert, has been charged
with production and possession for the purpose of trafficking.