COPS TARGET DRUG SCENE

Narcotics Trade Often Linked To Violent Crime, Say Police

While marijuana continues to be viewed by some as a relatively
harmless drug, the Huronia combined forces drug unit doesn't see it that way.

"I hate it when people say, 'It's just marijuana. Why don't you go
after the crack?'" said Det. Const. Jay Hutton. "We've seen marijuana
linked to violence."

A member of the Mnjikaning Police Service, Hutton has been involved
with the drug unit, which comprises officers from area police forces,
for more than two years.

He has seen that violence first-hand. On a raid of an outdoor grow
operation, Hutton said police were confronted by armed men who had
been left to guard the plants.

It's just one example of the violence and other crimes he said can
stem from marijuana grow operations.

While Hutton can't cite a percentage, he said he has learned through
the drug unit's work, as well as communication with police forces
across the region, that other crimes such as theft or robbery can
often be attributed to drug use.

In a presentation to area seniors Tuesday, Hutton said grow
operations are getting more sophisticated, and police often find
those running the operations are coming from larger centres like Toronto.

He pointed to an operation the drug unit carried out in 2005 where it
was discovered one group had established eight separate grow
operations in the area.

"We'll never get rid of the drugs. It's just trying to make our
communities as safe as possible," he said of the work the drug unit is doing.

One example of that is a recently completed 15-month undercover
operation that led to the arrest of more than 40 people.

"That really put a jolt in the community," he said.

Hutton said the main drugs on the local scene continue to be
marijuana, cocaine and crack/cocaine, but the drug unit also tries to
stay on top of present trends through informants or people being arrested.

"We're really watching out for the crystal meth(amphetamine)," he
said. "We're really seeing a big hit in western Ontario."

He said fighting drug crime can be a community effort and, along with
continuing education, information given to police by the public can
be invaluable.

"People may think it's just a little piece of information, but that
piece could lead to a search warrant," he said.